CRIMINAL CASE NO. 82 OF 2009
COURT: To Chun-man, you must be aware that trafficking in dangerous drugs of any type is rightly regarded as a very serious criminal offence.
I am told that your intention in relation to this very large quantity of “Ice” was to share it with friends. That is, nevertheless, trafficking in dangerous drugs and it is regarded just as seriously as those cases where defendants sell drugs for profit. The law’s concern is not so much with the profit made from dangerous drugs, but with the very great harm to society caused by the circulation of these filthy substances.
From what he has told me in mitigation on your behalf, your counsel, Mr Halley, will have told you that there are guidelines set down for all judges as to how we should sentence people who traffic in “Ice”. Those guidelines were set long ago by the Court of Appeal, and all judges are expected to stick to them unless there are very strong reasons for them not to do so. I have to tell you that there are no very strong reasons in your case.
I note that you have a lengthy criminal record and I make it clear that I am in no way aggravating or increasing your sentence because of the fact that you have a criminal record.
Your only mitigation is that you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and co-operated with the authorities, and because of that, it is well recognised that you are entitled to a substantial discount from the sentence you would have received had you pleaded not guilty, taken the matter to trial, and been found guilty by a jury. Your plea of guilty indicates realism on your part. It also indicates a degree of remorse.
I have to tell you that had you been found guilty by a jury after trial, had you contested this case, I, following the guidelines I have spoken of, would have had in mind a sentence of 9 years’ imprisonment for your offence. However, because of your co-operation and your plea of guilty, I am permitted to reduce that sentence very substantially.
I am reducing it by one-third to a sentence of 6 years' imprisonment, which is the sentence I now pass upon you.