Mr Alan Ng Man-sang, instructed by the Director of Legal Aid
HCCC 331/2012
HCCC331/2012
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 331 OF 2012
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Transcript of the Audio Recording of the Sentence in the above Case
COURT: I have to sentence you for trafficking in dangerous drugs. You were stopped at a game centre in Tai Po and when you were searched 13 plastic bags of dangerous drugs and also equipment such as an electronic scale, tape, plastic bags, 58 of them, empty resealable ones, were found upon your person.
You have been told that sentencing in such cases as yours depends on guidelines and the guidelines are based upon the nature and weight of the drug. In your case the drug was methamphetamine hydrochloride, known as “Ice”, and you had 11 grammes of it. You thus fall into the category that runs from 10 to 70 grammes, attracting a starting point after trial of 7 to 10 years in prison. You are at the bottom of the bracket. You earn a one-third discount by reason of your plea of guilty and that makes allowance of the fact that you have no previous convictions for drug trafficking. You do have convictions for other crimes but they do not contribute to the length of your sentence today. Accordingly, having taken a 7-year starting point and applying the one-third discount for your plea of guilty, the sentence is one of 4 years and 8 months’ imprisonment.
You have been told that sentencing in such cases as yours depends on guidelines and the guidelines are based upon the nature and weight of the drug. In your case the drug was methamphetamine hydrochloride, known as “Ice”, and you had 11 grammes of it. You thus fall into the category that runs from 10 to 70 grammes, attracting a starting point after trial of 7 to 10 years in prison. You are at the bottom of the bracket.
You earn a one-third discount by reason of your plea of guilty and that makes allowance of the fact that you have no previous convictions for drug trafficking. You do have convictions for other crimes but they do not contribute to the length of your sentence today.
Accordingly, having taken a 7-year starting point and applying the one-third discount for your plea of guilty, the sentence is one of 4 years and 8 months’ imprisonment.