CRIMINAL CASE NO. 79 OF 2011
COURT: On 31 October 2010, members of a plain-clothes anti-drug squad were on patrol in Mongkok when, at 10.58 pm, on the rooftop of premises in Sai Yeung Choi Street, two men were seen to walk out from the building. These two men tried to run away when they saw the officers but they were stopped before they could get very far.
On arrest, Imran Muhammad was found to have three re‑sealable bags, which, on analysis, were found to contain 48.13 grammes of cocaine. The street value of this quantity was estimated to be $68,144.
Similarly, Chaudhry Tariq Mehmood was found to be in possession of a solid containing 45.15 grammes of cocaine. The value of that at street level was estimated to be $63,944.
Now, both men, who are in Hong Kong as illegal immigrants from Pakistan, tried to deny involvement, initially, and it is fortunate for them that they have entered pleas of guilty at this stage as this enables me to reduce each of their sentences by a third from the sentence they would have received if they had been convicted after trial.
The sentencing guidelines in Lau Tak Ming for trafficking in heroin are the same as those for cocaine. In my judgment, the starting point under those guidelines, in each case, as Mr Richmond in his very able submission accepted, should be 7½ years’ imprisonment in the case of both defendants.
After a full discount is applied, this leaves a sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, so the sentence on each of you is that you serve a sentence of 5 years, you understand? Thank you, that is all.