Drug case brings 25 years jail

Press, 13 June 1986, Page 25

Drug case brings 25 years jail

NZPA-AAP Sydney The Australian Supreme Court has imposed what is believed to be a record prison term for drug offences when a member of the “Mr Asia” drug syndicate, James William Shepherd, was sentenced to 25 years jail with no parole.

The New Zealander, aged 45, also known as “Diamond Jim” Shepherd, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to import heroin to Australia between January, 1976, and March, 1979.

Mr Justice Mclnerney said it was hard to imagine a more serious form of drug offence and specified no-parole period in handing down the 25 year sentence. The sentence is the maximum allowed under the Customs Ammendment Act, 1977, under which Shepherd was

charged. Mr Justice Mclnerney also sentenced a second key syndicate member, Choo Cheng Kui, aged 50, also known as Jack Choo or “Chinese Jack,” to 20 years jail with a nonparole period of 14 years. Choo was charged with conspiring with Shepherd and the “Mr Asia” syndicate chief, Terrence Clark also known as Alexander Sinclair, and others to import heroin to Australia between 1976 and 1979. Choo was also sentenced to seven years jail for conspiring to import cannabis. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Shepherd’s trial lasted almost a month under heavy security as more than a dozen former syndicate couriers gave evidence against him.