$2000 fine for opium addict

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 7

$2000 fine for opium addict

An opium addict, who was "the victim of an unscrupulous associate with an intimate knowledge of the drug scene,” was fined $2OOO by Mr Justice Cook in the High Court yesterday. Pui Mou Keung, aged 44, a former shop proprietor, had pleaded guilty in the District Court to a charge of conspiring to supply morphine, a class B drug. He was also

put on supervision for a year and ordered to take treatment for his drug addiction. The police statement said that earlier this year the police became aware of illicit opium supplies in Christchurch at $6O a "spot.” After a threemonth intensive investigation Keung and others were arrested. Since he was aged 17, Keung had been an opium addict. He came to New

Zealand from Hong Kong and received opium on prescription but supplemented that with a supply from an illicit source. Keung told the police that he had been pestered by a man who asserted that he needed . opium tincture for his sick father. Later he realised, because of the amounts involved, that they were for some other purpose. Over a period of three months, Keung had provided the man with 14 100 ml bottles of opium tincture for $4OOO. The supply continued after he realised the drug was for an illicit purpose because the proceeds from a business, which he had sold, had run out and he needed money to live on, the police statement said. For Keung, Mr M. J. Glue said that his client could not read or write English and was very dependent on his European wife. Before bail was arranged Keung had spent a week-end in Addington Prison.

Because of his severe addiction to opium Keung had been prescribed an abnormally large dosage of the drug which he took into prison with him. He was beset by other prisoners attempting to

obtain opium from him. While in Hong Kong, Keung had tried to cure himself of his addiction by taking the methadone treatment while on a visit to that city. On his return to New Zealand he brought back seven weeks supply of methadone. For a period he was able to do without his prescribed opium and that was where his supply came from for the illicit sales.

Because of his opium addiction, Keung was an isolated and lonely person who had little contact with members of his own race. His marriage possibly contributed to that. Keung was unaware that the opium he had supplied to the man who had pestered him for it was being used by others for injection. The defendant was a hard worker and a good husband and father.

His addiction had made him extremely vulnerable and he had been manipulated by an unscrupulous associate who had an intimate knowledge of the drug scene. Keung was contrite and had learned a lesson he would not forget as long as he lived. He had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and Mr Glue submitted that a sentence short of imprisonment should be imposed. Mr Justice Cook said that the opium supplied could, after being chemically treated, have been converted into heroin. Keung had a very encouraging probation report. He was described as an honest, hard worker who was very capable and reliable. He had a strong sense of family loyalty. Unhappily his opium addiction had led to his offending. While at a very low ebb after the death of his mother, Keung had been befriended by an unscrupulous man who had manipulated him with ease.

This could be regarded as an exceptional case. It was most unlikely that Keung would offend again. The usual sentence for such an offence would be imprisonment, said his Honour.