Meth importer loses appeal

A man jailed for more than 11 years for importing 2kg of methamphetamine has had an appeal against his sentence dismissed.

A Court of Appeal judgement released today said Sik Cheung Wong came to New Zealand in June 2007 to complete the planned importation of the drugs from Hong Kong.

He rented an apartment in Auckland while staying in touch with colleagues overseas.

When the drugs arrived in two boxes labelled as containing figurines, they were intercepted by Customs, substituted and delivered to Wong's apartment by officers posing as courier drivers.

Police entered the apartment later in the day and Wong admitted the drugs were in a bedroom.

He pleaded guilty to importing methamphetamine for supply and was sentenced to 11 years and three months in jail. A 50 per cent minimum non-parole period was set.

The sentencing judge gave a 25 per cent sentence discount for Wong's guilty plea and while noting personal circumstances offered as mitigating factors said those factors had not contributed to the offending.

The judge said leniency was exercised when setting the minimum non-parole period.

Wong appealed on the grounds the starting point of 15 years was too high, insufficient credit was given for the mitigating factors and there was no need for a minimum non-parole period to be set.

The Court of Appeal weighed up the arguments and concluded the sentencing processes were within guidelines. The appeal against sentence was dismissed.

- NZPA