Drug peddler sentenced to 5 years RI
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 30 2013 :
Md Nasim Ali, who was convicted for illegal possession of 15 gram of Heroin Powder (locally known as No 4), has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 5 years along with a fine of Rs 20,000 by the Special Court of ND & PS .
In the central hearing of the case carried out at the Special Court of ND & PS at Lamphelpat here yesterday, Special Public Prosecutor RK Pratima Devi urged the court that since Md Nasim Ali has been convicted for illegal possession of 15 gm of Heroin Powder, which is a dangerous Narcotic Drug to the society, he should be awarded maximum punishment.
However, the counsel of the accused contended that the accused is now 54 years old and he is the only bread earner of the family having nine children and a wife to look after.
Moreover, the accused had no criminal record except the present case and is also regularly attending the court.
So, he should be imposed a fine and then released by taking into consideration of the jail term he had already undergone as his punishment.
After hearing the submissions of both the Special Public Prosecutor RK Pratima Devi and the counsel of the accused, M Manojkumar, Judge of Special Court of ND & PS, stated that 250 gm of Heroin Powder is prescribed as commercial quantity and 5 gm as small quantity.
But the accused has been convicted of possessing 15 gm of Heroin Powder, which is lesser than the commercial quantity but more than the small quantity.
Considering all the guidelines of imposing sentence in the case relating to ND & PS Act as well as the observation made by the Supreme Court with regard to the impact of drug abuse and drug trafficking in the society, the accused has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 5 years with fine of Rs 20,000, the Judge pronounced.
The court further announced that in the event of default of payment of the fine amount, the convict shall undergo another two months simple imprisonment.
Nevertheless, the period of 51 days which the accused had spent in police/judicial custody during investigation would be adjusted with the sentence term.
It may be recalled that Md Nasir Ali was caught along with 15 gms of Heroin Powder from his house at Lilong Awang Leikai under Thoubal district on May 29, 2002 by a team ofNarcotics and Border Affairs.