VICVCC
DPP v Van [2017] VCC 850
[2017] VCC 850
County Court of Victoria|2017-06-22|Before: Mr P
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Source factsCourt
County Court of Victoria
Decision date
2017-06-22
Before
Mr P
Catchwords
- Legislation Cited:
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Catchwords
Legislation Cited:
Judgment (1 paragraphs)
[1]
- Thang Nguyen Van, you have pleaded guilty to one charge of cultivation of a narcotic plant in not less than a commercial quantity. the plant being cannabis.
- You are to be sentenced as the crop sitter of the plants being grown at 9 Howard Street, St Arnaud. The period of time during which you were the crop sitter was 10 December 2015 to 14 October 2016. There were seven rooms of the house being used and three rooms of a shed at the rear. There was an electrical bypass system being used and the normal hydroponic paraphernalia was present. There were 376 plants at various stages of development to a weight of 76.3 kilograms.
- You have no criminal history. You have entered an early plea of guilty to which you are entitled to a discount because it shows remorse on your part and saves the community the cost of a jury trial.
- Your counsel has outlined to me your background. You are in Australia on a student visa. Your wife came over and she obtained a visa as you were on a student visa. You have a premature child, born on 21 March 2017. I am told that today is in fact the first time you have seen that child.
- You, in 2001 to 2008, worked and studied in the Netherlands. You then worked in Hanoi in the banking industry for some five years. You were married in 2011. You came to Australia to obtain a banking and business qualifications and you studied at the Central Queensland University Campus in Melbourne, and you had almost finished a course of banking to obtain a Masters qualification. I am told that you paid for your private school fees. Your wife, during this period, obtained work on a farm, although she has some medical problems as outlined by your counsel.
- Whilst you have been in custody, you have involved yourself in various study activities and work activities to rehabilitate yourself. Your wife is experiencing some difficulties with a child and I am told that health care nurses have been arranged to assist you and your solicitor, Mr Nikakis, has very helpfully suggested to your wife other assistance.