Druggie goes down over slippery ice

A man found to be an aspiring drug dealer was yesterday jailed for 28 days.

Robert Ewin Chin, 39, reduced amphetamine paste to "ice", which is a purer form of the drug.

Justice Dean Mildren told the Supreme Court: "I do not think he intended to be a large supplier... I am unable to say on what level he was involved or intended to be involved in supply."

The judge said he was not impressed with Chin's evidence and found him "slippery".

Justice Mildren said he found it difficult to believe Chin bought the drug with $7000 he had saved and which was in a tin at his father's house. He also found it difficult to believe Chin did not know he was bankrupt until last month.

"His behaviour with creditors and his failure to pay taxes shows he is not an honest person," Justice Mildren said.

Chin pleaded guilty to possessing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine (107.862g) and possessing two ecstasy tablets on February 6 last year.

Justice Mildren sentenced him to 12 months' jail for the amphetamine and three months for the ecstasy, a total of 15 months.

He suspended the sentence after the mandatory 28 days, less three days for time in custody.

The sentence was suspended on condition that Chin commit no jailable offence for 18 months.

The judge said he accepted that at the time Chin had a drug habit and was going through a marriage breakup.

He gave Chin credit for completing a 15-week rehabilitation program and for an early guilty plea.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 10th February 2005
Author: Bob Watt
Source: Northern Territory News
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News