CRIMINAL CASE NO. 155 OF 2012
COURT: I have to sentence you for trafficking in a dangerous drug.
You were caught carrying the drug “Ice” into Hong Kong through Lok Ma Chau. You had 187 grammes of it.
You will know perfectly well, given your criminal record, that sentencing for drug offences proceeds on the basis of guidelines which are based on the nature of the drug and its quantity.
For “Ice”, you fall in the category that attracts a sentence of imprisonment of between 10 and 14 years after trial for amounts between 70 and 300 grammes. You are in the middle of that bracket by weight.
It is also the case that you are in breach of a suspended sentence for the possession of drugs, and there is no reason why that should not be implemented consecutively.
Whilst the amount of “Ice”, in terms of the big drug cases that are done here, is not very great, there is still the international element of bringing the dangerous drug across the border to be reflected in the sentence.
The only real mitigation, as your counsel has to concede, is the fact that you pleaded guilty early on in the Magistrates’ Court, and I give you full credit for that.
I shall take a starting point of 12 years’ imprisonment. I shall reduce that by a third. That gives me 8 years, and I shall add 2 months to that sentence to reflect the international element.
Therefore, the sentence on the charge for which you were committed to this court is one of 8 years and 2 months.
The suspended sentence is implemented consecutively.
The total is therefore 8 years and 4 months’ imprisonment.