Former Suva lawyer Shazran Abdul Lateef, who is appealing his conviction and sentence for unlawful possession of illicit drugs, told the court that the sentence imposed on him was harsh and excessive.
Lateef says he had no prior convictions and had not faced a single complaint during his 35 years in the legal profession.
He also says there was a delay of six and a half years in the determination of his case.
When Suva High Court Judge Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu asked whether the delay had been taken into account in sentencing, Lateef said he doesn't think so.
The former lawyer told the court that he suffers from addiction and requires counselling, adding that prison is not the appropriate place to provide the treatment he needs.
He says a doctor had recommended that he be discharged to receive treatment.
Lateef also says that this was a victimless case and that a custodial sentence was unnecessary.
He further submitted that there were inconsistencies in the evidence given by accomplice-turned-state witness Asenaca Balekatuba, who, he said, was given too much credibility.
Responding for the State, DPP lawyer Shaheen Bibi said the evidence was consistent and that the Magistrate had assessed what transpired.
When Justice Bulamainaivalu asked whether the delay in determining the case had been considered during sentencing, DPP lawyer Shaheen Bibi replied no.
Lateef was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment in February this year after being convicted of unlawful possession of 9.5 grams of methamphetamine and 3.5 grams of marijuana on May 9, 2019.
The matter has been adjourned to July 31st for judgement.
