Regina v CHOUH, OUM, SREY, YIN, CHEA, BS and LEOUNG [2007] NSWDC 253

New South Wales District Court

CITATION: Regina v CHOUH, OUM, SREY, YIN, CHEA, BS and LEOUNG [2007] NSWDC 253 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 25/5/2007, 17/8/2007, 19/10/2007, 26/10/2007, 2/11/2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 2 November 2007

JURISDICTION: Criminal

JUDGMENT OF: Williams DCJ at 1

CATCHWORDS: Criminal Law - Sentencing - Importing Marketable Quantity of a Border Controlled Drug (heroin) - Couriers - Parity between seven defendants - Importation of different quantities - Exceptional circumstances

LEGISLATION CITED: Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act (1946)

R v PP [2005] NSWCCA 214 CASES CITED: King v R [2006] NSWCCA 110 Jules v R [2007] NSWCCA 243 Alameddine v R [2006] NSWCCA 317

PARTIES: CDPP Sothear CHOUH, Sophia OUM, Sam SREY, Sinary YIN, Chhengly CHEA, BS and Kunthea LEOUNG.

FILE NUMBER(S): 07/11/0147; 07/11/0153

Miss. C. Dobraszczyk (CDPP) Mr. S.J Buchen (CHEA) COUNSEL: Ms. A. Francis (LEOUNG) Mr. Priddis (SREY) Mr. R. Driels (BS) Ms A Cook (CHOU, OUM & YIN)

SOLICITORS: Mr. D. Provera (CDPP) Ms. A. Cook (Legal Aid Commission of NSW)

JUDGMENT

1 HIS HONOUR: Mr Chouh, Mr Srey, Ms Yin, Ms Oum, Mr Chea, Ms Leoung and Ms BS have each pleaded guilty to importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to s 307.2(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995. The marketable quantity is two grams. The maximum penalty for this offence is twenty five years imprisonment and or a fine of $550,000.