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HCCC245/2012
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 245 OF 2012
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HKSAR |
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Mudeeka, Hanington |
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| Before: |
Deputy High Court Judge McMahon |
| Date: |
3 September 2012 at 10.00 am |
| Present: |
Mr Bobby Cheung, SPP of the Department of Justice, for HKSAR
Mr John Hemmings, 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: On 13 March of this year, the defendant, now 48 years old, a Ugandan national, arrived at Hong Kong Airport on a flight from Doha. He was subjected to a search as he attempted to proceed through Customs and although his baggage and an external search of his person revealed nothing, it was decided to subject him to a more thorough search at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
While there, he discharged 88 small packets containing, in total, 600 grammes of heroin. The estimated retail value of the drugs at that time was over HK$800,000. He has been committed to this court for sentencing for the importation of those drugs.
I take a starting point of 20 years’ imprisonment. That is enhanced by 1 year to reflect the international element of the offence.
Regardless of the defendant’s family circumstances which he says encouraged him to embark on this journey and the attempted importation of these drugs, the only mitigation of substance available to him is his plea of guilty, and for that, he gets full credit.
His sentence is thereby reduced to one of 14 years’ imprisonment.
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