Court of Appeal quashes sentences for drugs offence and substitutes more severe sentences, on the grounds that: (a) there was no basis for departing from the mandatory presumptive minimum sentence of 10 years as the headline sentence; and (b) in addition to the mitigating factors reducing the sentence to seven years, there was an acute disappointment factor in the case as the non-suspended part of the respondents' original sentence was due to end very shortly and, in recognition of this, the court would reduce the sentence further to six years.
Offence: offences contrary to s, 15A of the MIsuse of Drugs Act
Original sentences: seven years with four and a half years suspended, imposed on each respondent, on condition that prior to their release from custody both respondents would make arrangements to leave the State and not return for 20 years
Appeal by: prosecution (statutory application)
Outcome: new sentences imposed of six years simpliciter