Jana G. Pruden
Leader-Post (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada)
A Cambodian refugee was struggling to support his family and unable to find work when acquaintances introduced him to the possibilities of a marijuana grow operation, a Regina court heard on Monday.
Bona Leng's decision to pursue the illicit venture landed him in trouble with the law, and Leng appeared in Regina Provincial Court on Monday to plead guilty to production of marijuana.
Leng's drug operation was uncovered in January 2005, when police entered a Regina house and found 180 marijuana plants in various stages of production throughout the residence.
Hal Wellsch, agent for the federal Crown, said there weren't any items of furniture, dishes or personal effects inside the house, and it appeared to be set up only for the drug operation.
At the time of the bust, police estimated the street value of the plants at $180,000, and said $20,000 worth of equipment had also been seized.
Leng didn't have a previous criminal record.
Appearing with Leng in a Regina courtroom on Monday, B.C. defence lawyer Mitch Foster said Leng was born in Cambodia but fled to Vietnam with his parents when he was just a toddler. The family lived in a refugee camp in Vietnam for 19 years, during which time they were not allowed to work, and survived on rationed food.
Leng came to Canada in 1993, graduated high school and held many legitimate jobs in Canada.
Foster said Leng is a resourceful man, who found himself in trouble when he moved back to Regina several years ago and was unable to find work.
"He made the unwise decision of getting involved in this ..." Foster said. "He seems to be embarrassed about it and quite remorseful of his actions."
Foster said Leng had a strong defence to the charges, but chose to plead guilty rather than take the matter to trial.
"He has taken responsibility for this from the start," Foster said.
Provincial Court Judge Anna Crugnale-Reid accepted a joint submission by the defence and Crown for a 15-month community-based sentence, though she warned Leng that any further convictions would likely net him jail time.
Under his conditional sentence, Leng must abide by a 6 p.m. curfew for the first four months, and an 11 p.m. curfew for the remainder of the sentence. He will also have to report to a conditional sentence supervisor and take programming or treatment if directed.
Leng will serve the sentence in Surrey, B.C., where he is now living.
Bona Leng's decision to pursue the illicit venture landed him in trouble with the law, and Leng appeared in Regina Provincial Court on Monday to plead guilty to production of marijuana.
Leng's drug operation was uncovered in January 2005, when police entered a Regina house and found 180 marijuana plants in various stages of production throughout the residence.
Hal Wellsch, agent for the federal Crown, said there weren't any items of furniture, dishes or personal effects inside the house, and it appeared to be set up only for the drug operation.
At the time of the bust, police estimated the street value of the plants at $180,000, and said $20,000 worth of equipment had also been seized.
Leng didn't have a previous criminal record.
Appearing with Leng in a Regina courtroom on Monday, B.C. defence lawyer Mitch Foster said Leng was born in Cambodia but fled to Vietnam with his parents when he was just a toddler. The family lived in a refugee camp in Vietnam for 19 years, during which time they were not allowed to work, and survived on rationed food.
Leng came to Canada in 1993, graduated high school and held many legitimate jobs in Canada.
Foster said Leng is a resourceful man, who found himself in trouble when he moved back to Regina several years ago and was unable to find work.
"He made the unwise decision of getting involved in this ..." Foster said. "He seems to be embarrassed about it and quite remorseful of his actions."
Foster said Leng had a strong defence to the charges, but chose to plead guilty rather than take the matter to trial.
"He has taken responsibility for this from the start," Foster said.
Provincial Court Judge Anna Crugnale-Reid accepted a joint submission by the defence and Crown for a 15-month community-based sentence, though she warned Leng that any further convictions would likely net him jail time.
Under his conditional sentence, Leng must abide by a 6 p.m. curfew for the first four months, and an 11 p.m. curfew for the remainder of the sentence. He will also have to report to a conditional sentence supervisor and take programming or treatment if directed.
Leng will serve the sentence in Surrey, B.C., where he is now living.
2 comments:
What a break for this Vietnamese imposter!
"A Cambodian refugee was struggling to support his family and unable to find work when acquaintances introduced him to the possibilities of a marijuana grow operation, a Regina court heard on Monday."
There, do you see what I mean by the root of drug link to lack of job? I just talk about this hours ago, below.
Post a Comment