HKSAR v. SHAYO MUNENE UPENDO ERICK

HCCC 372/2013

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CRIMINAL CASE NO 372 OF 2013

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Transcript of the Audio Recording
of the Sentence in the above Case

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COURT: On 5 March of this year, the defendant, a 23 year old Tanzanian female, arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on a flight from Tanzania. She attracted the suspicions of Customs Officers, was intercepted and taken to a hospital for an internal examination. Over the next several days, she discharged 64 pellets containing the charged 470 grammes of heroin. She pleaded guilty in Eastern Magistracy to the offence of trafficking in those drugs and was committed to this court for sentence.

I take a starting point of 15 years imprisonment. That is enhanced to 16 years imprisonment to reflect the international aspect of the offence. While the defendant has recently given birth to a baby boy in prison, that will be a matter for the Correctional Services and there is no substantial mitigation apart from the defendant’s plea of guilty.

Giving her full credit for that plea, her sentence is reduced to one of 10 years 8 months imprisonment.