Counsellor sold drugs regularly

A former drug and alcohol counsellor who began providing a regular supply of cannabis to an Aboriginal community has been sentenced to two years’ jail.

Malcolm Allan Alchin should have been well aware of the problems caused by substance abuse in Aboriginal communities, Justice Steve Southwood said in the Supreme Court.

Alchin, 54, pleaded guilty to having supplied cannabis at Maningrida between June and December 2003 and guilty to possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis – 539g.

The court heard on about July 1, 2003, Alchin traveled to Mamoyi outstation southwest of Maningrida.

In the next five months Alchin drove out to Mamoyi at least once a fortnight each time bringing several ounce bags of cannabis to sell to Aboriginal people.

Alchin’s four-wheel-drive was stopped on December 11, 2003, when police found scales and self-seal plastic bags as well as the cannabis.

Justice Southwood said even if Alchin began selling cannabis because of pressure from some traditional owners, he deliberately and independently built up and developed the enterprise.

Justice Southwood suspended Alchin’s sentence after he serves six months on condition he commits no jailable offence for two years.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 11 June 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Bob Watt
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283