Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: After both pleading guilty, a court in North Goa found two foreign-born women guilty of narcotics possession and sentenced them to 9 months of solitary confinement.
The court also ordered the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to initiate procedures for the deportation of both defendants upon the completion of their sentences.
Ssanyu Florence (age 28) and Nabankema Arisat (age 26) were apprehended by Anjuna police in February of this year. both from east African nations, for having 10.3 grams of cocaine, 3.4 grams of MDMA, and 7 grams of ecstasy in their hands without a prescription.
“Both defendants entered guilty pleas. As a result, the accused are found guilty of the crimes for which they were charged, according to Sherin Paul, Special Judge, Panaji.
On the sentence-related point, the accused was heard. The court stated that they claimed to be from a low socioeconomic background and were prepared to leave the nation if mercy was granted.
It should be noted that the accused are young, being in their 20s as the charge sheet makes clear. There is no evidence in the file that supports the assertion that the accused are well-off and habitual offenders. According to the court, the defendants have been detained since February 8, 2023.
“Given these facts, I believe that it will be appropriate to sentence the accused to 9 months of rigorous imprisonment for each offense and to pay a fine of ‘10,000 each for each offense. As a result, each accused person is required to pay ‘20,000 in fines, and if they fail to do so, they will each be subject to one month of additional rigorous imprisonment. The Special Judge noted that the two sentences must run simultaneously.
In accordance with Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the time of custody from February 8, 2023, to September 22, 2023, is to be set off. The court ordered the FRRO to initiate action to deport both defendants after they have served their sentences.
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