Drug trafficker arrested in Hong Kong given reduced sentence despite failed attempt to catch accomplice
Brazilian given eight-and-a-half-year reduction to sentence even though proposed sting falls through due to lack of a Portuguese interpreter
A Brazilian drug trafficker, who cut a deal with the authorities, was given a reduced sentence yesterday even though his attempt to help catch his accomplice failed due to a language barrier.
Alessander Paes Martino faced an original sentence of 21 and a half years for trafficking 769g of cocaine, worth more than HK$1.1 million, the Court of First Instance heard on Tuesday.
But High Court Judge Mr Justice Kevin Zervos reduced the sentence to 13 years after learning that the defendant had shown a “genuine desire” to assist Customs and Excise officers in apprehending his accomplice.
The department eventually turned down the offer as it could not understand the Portuguese-speaking defendant due to a lack of interpreter.
But Zervos accepted the defendant’s cooperation and said that had they been able to get an interpreter, Paes Martino would have taken part in a controlled delivery, where he would have taken the drugs to his accomplice at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, under the supervision of customs officers.
Zervos exercised caution before showing leniency, fearing that others might use the same excuse. “It could open a Pandora’s box,” he said.