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HCCC25/2011
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 25 OF 2011
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Before: |
Deputy High Court Judge A Chan |
Date: |
18 March 2011 at 9.55 am |
Present: |
Mr Harish Melwaney, SPP of the Department of Justice, for HKSAR
Mr Andrew Humphrey Bullett, instructed by the Legal Aid Department, for the Accused |
Offence: |
Trafficking in a dangerous drug (販運危險藥物) |
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Transcript of the Audio Recording
of the Sentence in the above Case
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COURT: The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, contrary to section 4(1)(a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. He was committed to this court for sentence.
The Summary of Facts which was admitted by the defendant reveals the following: on 19 August 2010, the defendant was intercepted by police officers at University Station, Ma On Shan. Six bags of ketamine were found on the defendant. He was arrested. Under caution, the defendant admitted that he took the drugs from China to Hong Kong for HK$3,000. A total of 1.16 kilograms of ketamine was carried by the defendant. The street value is estimated to be in the region of HK$171,000.
The defendant is unemployed and has a number of criminal convictions, of which three relate to drugs.
Guidelines on sentencing are clear. The starting point for trafficking in over 1 kilogram of ketamine is one of 14 years’ imprisonment.
Given the fact that this is a cross-border trafficking, the starting point is therefore adjusted upwards to one of 15 years. The defendant will be given the usual one-third discount for his early plea.
In conclusion, the defendant is sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
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