A HIGH Court judge yesterday sentenced a man found guilty of trafficking in nine kilograms of heroin to 16 years in jail, while in another trial, a judge sentenced a dealer found guilty over 4.7 kg to 19 years in jail.
Outside the court, lawyers expressed surprise at the ''harsh'' sentence meted out to one dealer and also at the discrepancy in the penalties.
Police arrested Wong See-ming after seizing 9.1 kg of heroin worth more than $4.12 million from his flat in Tin Sum, near Sha Tin.
Prosecutor Yasmin Mahomed said items used to manufacture heroin were also found at the apartment.
Defence counsel Wong Chi-kwong said Wong, a restaurant worker, had turned to trafficking to pay off loansharks.
Deputy Judge Wilson jailed Wong for 16 years after the defendant pleaded guilty to trafficking in drugs on July 17 last year.
He said although Wong would have faced 24 years if convicted after trial, his guilty plea entitled him to an eight-year reduction.
