CHINESE FINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 6

CHINESE FINED

HANDLING OF OPIUM LARGE QUANTITY SEIZED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 31. Two Chinese appeared before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Jim Jit Wan, a ship’s boy, aged 25, was charged with importing into New Zealand 21b 2oz of prepared opium, and with being in possession of prepared opium. Lim Fong a steward, aged 46, was charged with importing into New /Zealand 31b loz of prepared opium. A plea of guilty on gll charges was entered for the accused. Senior Detective Tretheway said the accused were seen coming off the wharf. When searched, Wan had 340 z of opium tied to his legs and body, and Fong had 490 z of opium tied around his body. When the accused’s cabins on the Dutch tanker Taria were searched lib of opium was found in a suitcase belonging to Wan, while Fong had £240 in £5 notes of New Zealand currency in another case. Altogether over 61b of. opium was found, and the retail value of it was £I2OO.

Counsel said the £240 was stated by Fong to have been won at fan tan. The accused had gone ashore on December 27 atid mixed with members of the Chinese commmunity in Auckland, some of whom were short of opium. They were taking that found in their respective possessions to friends as gifts. They said they had bought the opium for between- £lO and £l2. With the aid of an interpreter, the magistrate told the accused they were guilty of a serious offence, for which the courts imposed a heavy penalty. On the charge of importing, each was fined £2OO, in default three months’ imprisonment. On the charge of being in possession of opium a fine of £25 was imposed on Wan.