CRIMINAL CASE NO. 25 OF 2010
Today, in front of me, the accused has confirmed his plea and the facts that he admitted at committal. Those facts show that he was intercepted by Customs and Excise at the Green Channel of the Lo Wu Border Control Point. An ion scan of his belongings was carried out. During the scanning process, the Customs Officer’s suspicions were aroused by the way the defendant was moving, walking backwards and forwards and moving his hand at his left waist.
The Customs Officer leaned over and saw two transparent plastic bags containing a white substance on the floor near the defendant’s right foot. The officer asked the defendant what they were but there was no reply. The bags gave a positive reaction when scanned. The accused was arrested and cautioned and admitted that the Ice was for his own consumption. At a subsequent interview he did not say anything else.
The Government Chemist analysed the drugs which were found to be in the proportions set out in the particulars of the charge. The estimated street value is $26,974.20 and the accused has formally admitted importing the dangerous drug for a purpose other than for his own consumption.
The defendant has one previous criminal offence, not drug-related. He was sentenced to a 12 month Probation Order on 9 September 2008 for an attempt to give information, to wilfully mislead or attempt to mislead a police officer. This present offence was committed within the term of that probation order.
In mitigation I was advised that the accused is aged 25. He had been working as a case worker for exhibition events but that work dried up. This was due to the effects of the recession. He qualified as an estate agent but was unable to make a living as an estate agent. Prior to his unemployment he had been earning $12,000 a month contributing $5,000 to his parents.
He was in a bad financial state around the time of this offence. He came to know a man, Ah Yuen, who apparently befriended him but eventually suggested that he do this job for a $1,000 on a successful delivery. The accused is very remorseful and has written a mitigating letter expressing that remorse and saying that he proposes to turn over a new leaf. He appreciates the support of his parents and his girlfriend. His parents and a prison chaplain have written to the court confirming their support and asking the court to pass a lenient sentence.
Under the guidelines for Ice, in the case of A.G v.Ching Kwok Hung [1991] 2HKLR 125 this quantity of drug comes into the category for 7 to 10 years’ imprisonment. There is an international element in that it was imported from the Mainland.
In this case I take a starting point of 8½ years; 8 years as the initial starting point plus 6 months for the international element. I give a full discount for the plea which I accept is an early plea and I impose a sentence of 68 months i.e.5 years’ and 8 months’ imprisonment.