While announcing the harsh sentencing of 41 year old Sheik Mohammed and 41 Michael Ashleigh Chandra, Justice Paul Madigan took into account that they refused to mitigate, showing a lack of remorse on their part.
LAUTOKA – Two men found guilty of unlawful possession of illicit drugs were sentenced to nine years imprisonment by the Lautoka High Court judge justice Paul Madigan.
While sentencing 41 year old Sheik Mohammed and 41 Michael Ashleigh Chandra, Justice Madigan took into account that they refused to mitigate, showing a lack of remorse on their part.
The two were arrested on 14th November 2007 in Sigatoka town after police stopped their vehicle and found 15 newspaper wrapped packets of dried leaves which were 3764.6 grams of marijuana concealed in the back bumper and behind the loose back number plate.
Justice Madigan while sentencing the two stressed that the amount of drugs seized from the vehicle was obviously intended for commercial sale and the seizure represents a distinct threat to the young people of this country, a class of people more likely to use illicit drugs for recreation.
Mohammed has three previous convictions and is presently serving a sentence of ten years while Chandra has four previous convictions and is currently serving a sentence of six years.
Both will serve their sentence concurrently and will be able to apply for parole after serving seven years each.
