PANAJI
Showing leniency owing to their poor financial condition and willingness to leave the country, the Special Judge (North Goa) has sentenced two drug traffickers of foreign origin to only nine months of rigorous imprisonment.
Since their arrest on February 8, 2023, Ssanyu Florence, aged 28 years from Uganda and Nabankema Arisat, 26, from Tanzania have been behind bars. As per the prosecution, the Anjuna police chargesheeted the foreigners under Sections 22(b) and 21(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 on allegations of illegal possession of seven grams of ecstasy, 3.4 grams of MDMA and 10.3 grams of Cocaine. As per the Act, a convicted accused is sentenced to 10 years of RI.
During the hearing on the point of sentence on Friday, the convicted women pleaded they come from a poor background and are ready to leave the country if leniency is shown.
Special Judge Sherin Paul accepted the submission and noted that the accused are young, in their twenties with no material on record to indicate they are habitual offenders and that they are well-to-do.
“The accused have been in custody since February 8, 2023. Considering these circumstances, I am of the opinion that it will be appropriate to sentence the accused to 9 months RI for each offence and to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 each for each offence, that is, both the accused are required to pay Rs 20,000 as fine and in default to undergo further RI for 1 month,” reads the order.
Sentences for both offences will run concurrently. The Court also directed the FRRO to take steps to deport both accused after they complete their sentence period.
