COURT: The defendant pleaded guilty to trafficking 1,164.09 grammes of heroin hydrochloride on 8 October 2018 at the
Eastern Magistrates’ Court. He was committed to this court for sentence.
In the afternoon of 6 April 2018, police officers went to Room 1, Goldcity Hotel, Yau Ma Tei, to investigate a case of unconscious person. The defendant was the roommate of the unconscious person who was subsequently certified dead.
During inquiry, the defendant told the police that he and the deceased were from Malaysia. They came to Hong Kong from Macau on 5 April 2018. They stayed at the Goldcity Hotel. The defendant later told the police that he had moved to Room 833, Golden Island Hotel in the same building earlier on.
The police searched that room and found the following. A black suitcase containing a box of cutter blades, a stack of resealable plastic bags, three rows of adhesive tapes, two pairs of sneakers and four insoles for shoes. Inside the four insoles were four packets containing a total of 6.09 grammes of heroin hydrochloride. There were also two plastic bags containing several paper boxes of pineapple cakes in the room. Four of these paper boxes, each containing a plastic bag of heroin, were found. The total weight was 1,158 grammes.
The police arrested the defendant who admitted that the deceased offered to pay him 6,000 Malaysian currency to bring the drugs to Hong Kong. In a later video-recorded interview, the defendant further admitted that in Malaysia, the boss concealed the drugs in the insoles of the shoes. He and the deceased were instructed to put on those shoes when travelling to Hong Kong.
On arrival at Room 1, Goldcity Hotel, they took the drugs out from the insoles and put it inside the boxes of pineapple cakes which they bought in Macau. He was instructed by the boss to move to Room 833, Golden Island Hotel, and hand over the heroin to the buyer later.
The total value of the heroin was about HK$1.13 million.
The defendant is 24 years old. He is a Malaysian-born Chinese. He is single. He has a clear record in Hong Kong. He attained Form 3 education in Malaysia. He was a salesman of mobile phones earning about 4,000 to HK$7,000 per month. He lived with his parents and two younger sisters. He committed this offence for quick money. While in custody pending sentence, he joined a Christian group. He also learned some laundry and tailoring skills. He would take up some training courses in prison. He is deeply remorseful.
It is encouraging that the defendant has maintained a positive attitude. However, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a very serious offence which warrant deterrent sentence.
The sentencing tariff of Abdallah is applicable. For trafficking in 1,164.09 grammes of heroin, the starting point should be 22 years and 10 months’ imprisonment. I enhance the starting point by 2 years for bringing the drug to Hong Kong. The final starting point should be 24 years and 10 months’ imprisonment.
Having considered the amount of heroin hydrochloride, his background and the mitigation, I deduct 8 years and 4 months for his plea.
I sentence the defendant to 16 years and 6 months’ imprisonment.