Pubdate: Tue, 23 Apr 2002
Source: Cambridge Reporter, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 The Cambridge Reporter
Contact:  http://www.cambridge-reporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1470
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

AUSTRALIAN MAN GETS ANOTHER 15 DAYS FOR POT

An Australian man of Vietnamese descent, who has already spent four months 
in jail, was sentenced Friday to a further 15 days in jail to deter others 
from coming to Canada and illegally growing marijuana.

In sentencing Hau Van Do, Justice Colin Westman gave him credit for four 
months of pretrial custody said the additional time in jail would bring the 
total sentence to one year, drug prosecutor Justin Heimpel said in an 
interview.

Westman also advised the 47-year-old man that when he returns to Australia 
to tell people that this offence is not tolerated in this community and, if 
caught, normally results in a sentence of between 12 and 15 months, Heimpel 
said.

Do was arrested last December when police raided a house at 66 The Greenway 
in Cambridge and found a large, sophisticated grow operation in the basement.

At his trial, Do testified that he was visiting a friend in Cambridge the 
night of the police raid.

But Westman didn't buy his story. The judge said the most significant piece 
of evidence against Do was a telephone bill found in the house which 
contained 12 telephone calls to Do's son in Australia.

The judge said it's safe to infer from those calls that Do was at the 
Cambridge house on a regular basis to look after the marijuana plants.

And Do's troubles are far from over.

Once he's served his jail sentence, he will be detained by immigration 
officials until he is deported to Australia, Heimpel said.
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