Ness Wadia, the heir to the Wadia group, has been sentenced to a suspended two-year jail term in Japan over possession of drugs. Wadia was arrested at New Chitose Airport in the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido in early March.
According to a report in CNBC-TV18, Wadia was carrying nearly 25g of cannabis resin in his trouser pockets. The report also added that Wadia was handed a two-year prison sentence which was suspended for five years – which means Wadia will not be arrested till he commits any other crime during the specified period.
Responding to the news report, the spokesperson of the Wadia Group has said, “Ness Wadia is in India. The judgment is clear. It's a suspended sentence. Hence it won't impact Ness Wadia in the discharge of any of his responsibilities.”
Wadia was on a skiing holiday and has returned to India, according to The Financial Times.
Speaking to the daily, a court official said that Wadia has admitted to the possession of drugs saying that it was for his personal use. Reportedly, he has spent a period in detention before he was indicted on 20 March.
What Does Suspended Jail Term Mean?
Well, a suspended jail term can be applied in cases in which sentence is up to three years in prison or a fine of 5,00,000 yen. If a person commits a crime during the period of suspension then the suspension can be cancelled and the offender can be jailed.
Wadia’s two-year prison sentence has been suspended for five years – which means Wadia will not be arrested till the time he commits any other crime during the specified period.
What Does The Japanese Law Say?
According to US Embassy, it is illegal to bring into Japan some over-the-counter medicines, including inhalers and some allergy medications.
"Heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, cannabis (marijuana), stimulant drugs including some prescription medications such as Adderall, and including some medications available over-the-counter" are prohibited in Japan.
"The import of stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine and amphetamines in particular are strictly prohibited, even when accompanied by a customs declaration and a copy of the prescription," as per US Embassy.
(With inputs from CNBC-TV18)
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