Two men get prison sentences and fines for drug offences |18 September 2020

The Supreme Court has this week convicted two Seychellois men in two separate drug cases, after they both pleaded guilty to charges related to drug offences which they were arrested for by officers of the Anti-Narcotics Bureau (ANB) of the Seychelles Police Force.

The first convict is Vanian Richie Azemia, a 26-year-old inmate presently serving a total term of four years and six months imprisonment since December 11, 2019 at the Montagne Posée prison for several counts of drug trafficking offence which he committed on October 9, 2019 in his home district of Pointe Larue.

He is now being fined R5,000 for trafficking in 25.80 grammes of cannabis resin (hashish) which was found in his possession on October 8, 2019 at Cascade.

In default of payment of the fine, Azemia will have to spend one month in prison.

Additionally, for trafficking in 2.02 grammes of heroin (containing 1.25 grammes pure heroin) also found in his possession on the same day, he is sentenced to a term of 6 months imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to the prison term he is presently serving.

The default term of imprisonment for non-payment of the mentioned fine, if activated, should also run consecutive to the other terms he is presently serving.

When he was arrested in October 2019, Azemia was being employed as a cabin cleaner at the Seychelles International Airport.

The second convict is Jean-Eve Antoine Servina, 21 years of age, a casual labourer of Belonie, who was sentenced for the offence of cultivation of a controlled drug, 50 cannabis plants.

He was sentenced to a term of one year imprisonment, which is suspended for two years. He was also fined R5,000 payable by the end of December 2020, which in default of payment he will serve six months imprisonment.

Servina was arrested at his home in possession of the drugs on February 11, 2018.

ANB communique