Updated Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:02 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Man growing marijuana in loft gets 27 years in jail

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A man charged with growing lofts full of marijuana was yesterday handed a 27-year sentence in jail, local media reported yesterday.

The Banciao District Court charged Cheng Bo-geng, 36, with violating the narcotics endangerment prevention act and gave him a heavy 27-year prison sentence along with a NT$4 million fine. Three accomplices of Cheng received 19-, 13- and seven-year sentences respectively.

Evidence pointed to Cheng as the lead perpetrator. Cheng had allegedly started working with an Australian named "Jim" on the cultivation of cannabis in the June of 2006.

Along with the three other accomplices, the men were able to start a mini marijuana plantation in a nearby loft. Cheng then sold the illegal plant for profits.

Cheng was released on bail for the offense. He was caught again this past March for growing marijuana in a loft in Kaohsiung. The harshness of his final sentence can be attributed to his repeat offense.

The case caused a commotion in 2006, when investigators from the Banciao District Office entered Cheng's loft in Taipei City that was rumored to be cultivating cannabis.

Ten artists in the entertainment industry were caught smoking marijuana in the loft and further probes exposed artists Tuo Chung-kang and Chu Chung-heng as being among them, which resulted in a six-month long investigation that exposed the infamous marijuana-smoking scandal in the entertainment industry.

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Comments

July 2, 2009 kdwa@

For one thing Marijuana is simply a soft drug which is less potent than alcohol and should be legalized every where. Taiwan's strict and outdated drug laws need to be revised. In this case whether he did the growing in two locations at different times or not, the penalty was way over the top. It's not like he was producing and dealing Heroin or other dangerous drugs. This is the 21st century, not the dark ages. 27 years is too long for a crime that doesn't threaten public safety or health in any way. The court system here in Taiwan is draconian and its society is brain washed to support this type of legislation. Alcohol use is out of control with many traffic deaths as proof. Marijuana will never come anywhere close to being as destructive.

July 5, 2009 pitufillo@

I agree with the last comment, but something must change to boost Taiwan as a country!! The things in Taiwan right now, in some aspects, are like in Europe in the early and middle XX century.

August 8, 2009 iwill@

Marijuana is illegal in order to protect the criminal rackets that control its distribution. Obviously it is no worse than tobacco or alcohol but it is on thousand times more valuable being illegal. The law enforcement industry profits and big drug dealers stay in business. Also, the timber, cotton, and pharmaceutical industries don't want it legal as it directly competes with their products. Wake up to the real world.

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