- Joined
- Nov 30, 2011
- Messages
- 213
- Points
- 0
Updated: 11/18/2013 17:55 | By Channel NewsAsia
Teen who planted cannabis gets probation
https://www.facebook.com/adith.sarvotham/about
https://www.facebook.com/adith.sarvotham/photos
SINGAPORE: Out of curiosity, a teenager threw the seeds and stems of a cannabis plant into a pot to see if they would grow -- and they did.
For cultivating six cannabis plants and other drug-related offences, 18-year-old Adith Sarvotham was placed on probation for 36 months.
Adith was also ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and for his family to pay a bond of S$5,000.
He was also convicted of consuming cannabis and trafficking diamorphine. Four other drug-related charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
The offences were committed between December 2012 and April 2013.
In mitigation, Adith's defence lawyers said the offences were committed at a time when their client was new to Singapore and trying to fit in with his peers.
The defence added that Adith planted the cannabis seeds out of curiosity and is now remorseful. It urged the court to place the teenager on probation.
But the prosecution objected to this, saying the drug trafficking charge is serious in nature. It pushed for reformative training for the accused.
In sentencing, District Judge Soh Tze Bian said it would be of deterrence to impose on Adith 36 months' probation. This includes a voluntary stay at The New Charis Mission for 12 months and six months' electronic tagging after he leaves the hostel.
Judge Soh said while he agreed with the prosecution that "drug trafficking counts as one of the serious crimes", he is "unable to agree with the prosecution's broad brush approach against the grant of probation to every young trafficker".
He explained that it cannot be in the public's interest to jail every young drug offender and expose them to the negative influences of "hardened criminals in the prison environment".
"The rehabilitation of the young who had gone astray is a fundamental tenet of our society," said the judge in his grounds for decision.
The judge added that he found the accused suitable for probation and said Adith has good prospects for rehabilitation.
The court also noted that Adith had stopped smoking, consuming alcohol and abusing drugs. It was told that Adith had started work as a volunteer at a mission home since October this year.
The punishment for cultivating cannabis is a jail term of between three and 20 years and a fine of up to S$40,000.
For drug consumption, the penalty is up to 10 years' jail and S$20,000 fine. - CNA/nd
