|
Welcome to the new SeyLII website. Enjoy an improved search engine and new collections. If you are used to accessing SeyLII via Google, note Google will take some time to re-index the site. We are still busy migrating some of the old content. If you need anything in particular from the old website, it will be available for a while longer at https://old.seylii.org/ |
Court name
Supreme Court
Case number
CO 53 of 2020
Counsel for plantiff
Alexandra Benoiton
R v Samson (CO 53 of 2020) [2020] SCSC 501 (28 July 2020);
Media neutral citation
[2020] SCSC 501
Counsel for defendant
Nichol Gabriel
Headnote and holding:
Trafficking and Possession of drugs - Guilty Plea - Minimum sentences for 1st offender
Coram
Govinden, J
GOVINDEN J
- I have heard Counsel in mitigation. The convict is a 42-year-old man. He has pleaded guilty. He has saved the Court's time and expenses of a trial and he is a first offender.
- As regards to the amount of controlled drug, it is on the low side. Although, being a class A drug, it is only 59% purity with a net weight of 2.07 grams.
- Having considered all the circumstances I can see no aggravating factors in this case. So I do not find any reason to commit the accused to imprisonment at this stage.
- I will impose the following sentence on the convict.
- I impose a sentence of one-year imprisonment which I shall suspend for three years with the condition that he does not commit any similar offense for a period of three years, otherwise the sentence of one year will be activated. I further in addition impose a fine of Ten Thousand Rupees.
- I will give the convict 6 months from today to pay his fine.
- He can appeal against the sentence within 30 working days.
Signed, dated and delivered at Ile du Port on 28th July 2020.
___________
Govinden J