HKSAR v. AROM BOONLONGRIT CHUEN

HCCC296/2008

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

CRIMINAL CASE NO. 296 OF 2008

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

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COURT:  Defendant, stand up, please.

Defendant, it is never a pleasant task to have to sentence someone like yourself, but nevertheless the Court of Appeal here in Hong Kong has made it abundantly clear that those who commit offences of trafficking in dangerous drugs, and particularly those who commit the offence of trafficking in methamphetamine hydrochloride, must have imposed upon them lengthy terms of imprisonment.  The Court of Appeal has said this because of a number of reasons, not the least of which is the very serious damage that a drug of this nature causes in our community.

 The amount of drugs involved in this case is considerable.  The profits that are made by those who engage in drug trafficking are notoriously significant.  Those who traffic in dangerous drugs do so usually for one reason and one reason only, and that is the monetary gain that they will obtain from it.

 The sentencing guidelines provided by the Court of Appeal suggest that a starting point for sentence after trial for this quantity of methamphetamine hydrochloride should be 7 years and 6 months’ imprisonment.  There is nothing that I see in your personal circumstances or the circumstances of the commission of this offence that would justify me departing from that guideline, and the sentence that I impose upon you is one of 7 years and 6 months’ imprisonment.