31/01/2008 00:00:00
UK: 15000 Pound fine for dealer
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A SUSPECTED drug dealer caught with £50 worth of cannabis is being
ordered to pay £15,000 – 300 times the value of his illegal stash.
Umer Safdar has been ordered to pay out the staggering fee by Bolton
Crown Court following his conviction for possession of the class C drug
with intent to supply.
The 20-year-old, of Mitchell Street, Spotland, was given 150 hours of
community service in September, having originally been caught with the
drug in his Honda Civic car in December 2006.
But prosecutors then applied for the cash through under the Proceeds of
Crime Act 2002.
The courts have the power to seize a minimum of £1,000 in assets if it
is suspected that the cash will be put to an illegal use.
Detective Inspector Daryl Chadwick said Safdar’s case sends out a strong
message to other criminals.
“Rochdale police does not tolerate drug dealing,” he said.
“The decision to confiscate such a large amount of cash compared with
the value of the drugs originally seized demonstrates the commitment of
the court to the same cause.
“I am sure this decision will have a significant impact on Mr Safdar.
“The seizure of assets hits offenders where it hurts the most – in the
pocket.”
http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/s/1034765_15k_fine_for_dealer
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13231
Author:
Rochdale Observer via UKCIA
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