Court delivers swift judgment in just over 2 years
15 years RI for two in drug seizure case of 2018
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 28 2020: Special Judge of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (ND&PS) Court sentenced two convicts to rigorous imprisonment of 15 years and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each in a multi-crore drug haul case of Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) Manipur on June 2018.Significantly the judgment has come just a little over two years and if the law Courts act as swift as this, it can go a long way in curbing illegal activities, particularly drug peddling and smuggling.

The two convicts Thangminlung Zou (30) s/o Chinsuanlam Zou of Lunmnual Village Churachandpur, currently staying at Game Village Zone-I, Langol and Tung Khan Mung Zou @ Mungzou @ Aric 21 s/o Ginzamuan of Moreh Ward number 2 Ganmon Veng, currently staying at Mantripukhri Lamlongei were produced before the Court from Manipur Central Sajiwa to hear the quantum of punishment.

Special PP submitted that Thangminlung Zou may be awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 2 lakh under Section 21 (c) and 22 (c) of the ND&PS Act.

The Special PP further submitted that for the offence under section 29 read with section 21 (c)/22(c) of ND&PS Act, convict Tung Khan Mung Zou may also be awarded 20 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 2 lakh.

There is no scope to show any soft attitude toward the convicts, said the Special PP.

On the other hand, defence counsel of Thangminlun Zou prayed for awarding minimum sentence of imprisonment (10 years) as the convict is unmarried and unemployed and his parents are aged.

Defence counsel of Tung Khan Mung Zou submitted that there is no abetment on the part of the convict and thus prayed the Court to count the time the convict already served in jail, ie, 2 years and 2 months, as the quantum of sentence.

The defence counsel further submitted that Tung Khan Mung Zou who was 19 years old at the time of the drug seizure was misled and used in a wrong way by some miscreants.

The Court after hearing the submission of the Special PP and defence counsels of the convicts in length sentenced Thangminlun Zou to undergo rigorous imprisonment of 15 years along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the offences under section 21 (c)/22(c) and section 29 of ND&PS Act.

The sentence announced that the term shall run concurrently and Thangminlun Zou should pay the fine within one year failing which the convict shall go another 6 months imprisonment, added the Court.

At the same time, the Court also sentenced Tung Khan Mung Zou to undergo rigorous imprisonment of 15 years along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the offence under section 29 of ND&PS Act.

This convict was also directed to pay the fine within one year failing which he shall go another 6 months imprisonment.

The Court also announced to set off the duration which the convicts had already served in the jail from the sentence of imprisonment announced today.

The Court also directed all concerned to dispose all the seized contraband drugs and psychotropic substances according to the law after the expiry of the appeal period.

Mention may be made that Special court ND&PS on December 17 had acquitted former Chandel ADC Chairman Lhoukhosei Zou and six others after the trial of the case on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove the charges levelled against them.

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