Rehoboth man sentenced for dealing in cannabis

REHOBOTH, 24 APR  – A 53-year-old Rehoboth man was on Monday sentenced to a fine of N.dollars 5 000 or eight months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of dealing in cannabis.
Herbert Karabo was arrested with 10 small parcels of cannabis worth N.dollars 50 when police searched his house and found the substance under a table on 14 April this year.
Karabo, who was out on bail, made his second appearance before Magistrate Desire Kamboua and immediately pleaded guilty to the charge. He first appeared on 16 April.
In his mitigating plea, Karabo said he is the only breadwinner of the household and is taking care of his six children and two elderly people, and asked the court to impose a fine of N.dollars 4 000.
Kamboua, in handing down the sentence, said the offence is serious and prevalent in the Rehoboth District.
She said the accused ought to have been an example to his children, instead of engaging in this kind of business.
“It is correct that drug dealers are at worst predators and best parasites who prey on the weakness of others. In consideration of an appropriate sentence, the court must bear in mind that the purpose of the sentence is both retributive and preventative, which means it must punish you and dissuade you from committing this offence again and as far as possible rehabilitate you,” Kamboua noted.
She said other would-be offenders should also be deterred from committing similar offences and in extracting retribution, the court must punish them to ensure community members do not take the law into their own hands.
“A victim must see that the court is able to protect his/her interests and that the crime does not pass unnoticed. In considering an appropriate sentence the one factor must not outweigh the other and whilst mitigation is an important consideration, sentences must not be lenient so as to make a mockery of the justice system,” Kamboua said.
Public Prosecutor Leonard Mateus presented the State.

NAMPA