Lessee avoids jail over cannabis haul

[grace]

Lessee avoids jail over cannabis haul

Posted Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:50pm AEST

ABC News

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/05/2356575.htm

 

An Albanian immigrant has been given a suspended sentence for participating in the cultivation of cannabis at two Canberra properties between 2003 and 2004.

 

Astrit Kola arrived in Australia in 2001. He fled Albania after being shot during a neighbourhood dispute over property.

 

The ACT Supreme Court heard he became involved in a drug operation in Canberra after a group of Albanians asked him to sign the leases for homes in Page and Kaleen.

 

The court was told Kola agreed out of loyalty.

 

He was charged after police raided the properties and found cannabis and hydroponic equipment.

 

Chief Justice Terence Higgins said it was an extraordinary feature of the case that Kola gained no financial benefits from the drugs operation.

 

Chief Justice Higgins sentenced him to nine months in jail which will be wholly suspended.

 

He also placed Kola on a good behaviour order.