Nigerian sentenced to four years in drug case

A 33-year old Nigerian has been sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment for carrying 300 grams of heroine and living in India illegally.
Special Judge Shail Jain awarded the sentence to Edom Simon Chimezie for the offence punishable under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The court also found him guilty of living in India illegally after expiry of his visa under Foreigners Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on the convict.
"Considering the fact that Chimezie has been convicted under section 21(b) NDPS Act for being in conscious possession of intermediate quantity of heroine, I am of the opinion that ends of justice would be served if he is sentenced to undergo four years rigorous imprisonment," said the judge.

According to police, Chimezie was found in possession of 300 grams of heroine on December 7, 2011 at Kashmere Gate, Delhi. Also, he was found to be living in India after expiry of his visa. However, he had pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
The convict had sought leniency on the quantum of sentence on the ground that he has two minor children in Nigeria and there is nobody to look after them as his wife recently died due to cardiac arrest.