‘Mr Asia' figure has jail term extended

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 23

‘Mr Asia' figure has jail term extended

NZPA Sydney A leading “Mr Asia” drug syndicate figure, a New Zealander, “Diamond” Jim Shepherd, was given a further 20-year jail sentence on Tuesday on a charge of conspiracy to supply heroin. Shepherd, aged 45, is at present serving a 25-year jail term for conspiracy to import heroin between January, 1976, and December, 1979. In Sydney’s Supreme Court, Mr Justice Mclnerney refused to set a nonparole period for his latest sentence, in spite of Shepherd’s plea of guilty to the charge.

“I am of the view that the plea of guilty to sup-

ply was done for tactical reasons in the defence of importation of heroin ... I am convinced this plea does not show any contrition and I disregard it,” Mr Justice Mclnerney said.

Giving his reasons for the sentence, the Judge said Shepherd’s fundamental role in the importation was to be responsible for the distribution of heroin once it had been imported and prepared for sale. He said he was satisified Shepherd had been in complete control of the drug ring’s distribution of heroin in 1978, and without his intervention the operation would have

foundered.

“It is an operation no doubt that has distributed large amounts of heroin on to the Australian market.

“There was a major criminal undertaking well organised and the prisoner’s criminality in my view is of the highest order and deliberately and completely and utterly premeditated.”

It was difficult to envisage a more serious offence and there, was nothing to ameliorate the prisoner’s involvement. Mr Justice Mclnerney said the sentence would be served concurrently with Shepherd’s other jail sentence.