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| The Hei Ling Chau Addiction Treatment Centre, where the accused will likely be confined |
A Filipino who was convicted recently of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a local man, has been sent to the Drug Addition Treatment Center (DATC) indefinitely after he was confirmed to be addicted to dangerous drugs.
A drug treatment officer’s
report “rightly pointed out that you are a drug addict,” Magistrate Gary Chu told
M. Tibio, a 33-year-old waiter, when he appeared for sentencing today at
West Kowloon Court,
“In view of your weak will power
to get rid of the habit, the officer recommended that you be confined to the
DATC,” he added.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
No definite period was
specified for his rehab, but Magistrate Gary Chu told him, “It depends on your
progress.”
The treatment will normally
take six to eight months plus another one year of supervision “to make sure you
don’t touch drugs again,” he added.
While the sentence would keep him out of jail, it would also leave him with a criminal record.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Asked by Magistrate Chu if
he had any objection to his sentence, Tibio said no.
Tibio pleaded guilty last Oct. 28 to the charge of violating Common Law and
the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance when he assaulted a local man last
June 23 in front of a bar on South Lantau Road in Pui O, Lantau.
Tibio was scheduled to be
sentenced to do community service as a penalty but was instead detained after
his urine test showed traces of marijuana.
This prompted Chu to order a
report from the DATC. “CSO (community service order) is not recommended due to
continued drug abuse,” Magistrate Chu said then, noting the risks faced by his
family and people who will be working with him.
Tibio was also convicted of
drug possession in 2020 and was fined $2,000.
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