"Skill" Cole loses appeal

Former football star Allan "Skill" Cole has lost his appeal against his conviction for drug trafficking.

However, the Appeal Court threw him a life line when it quashed the 18 month prison sentence that was imposed on him.

In its ruling handed down Friday morning, the Appeal Court also quashed the $500,000 fine that was imposed on him for taking step to export ganja.

The court, however; affirmed the conviction and $15,000 fine that was imposed on him for possession of ganja.

The court also affirmed the $300,000 fine imposed on Mr. Cole for using his premises to store ganja

Cole, former national football star was found guilty of drug trafficking charges on July 2, 2007.

This after the narcotics police raided his Vineyard Town residence on February 2002 and seized more than 300 pounds of ganja.

The ganja, which had a street value of $46 million, was found packed in boxes marked for export in the kitchen of the house.

However, Cole had strongly denied the allegations and claimed he was the victim of a "set-up".