Pubdate: Fri, 07 May 2010 Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2010 Osprey Media Contact: http://www.thesudburystar.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx Website: http://www.thesudburystar.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608 Author: Judith Van Boxel TRAFFICKING SENTENCE TOO WISHY-WASHY Re: Guilty pleas bring trial to a halt -- May 1. The Star's report of the arrest of two men at the downtown Rainbow Centre for the possession of a wide variety of drugs and a large amount of cash is interesting. What is more interesting and somewhat disturbing is the comment of the judge at the second day of hearing in court. The judge ruminated that the two men could be two "purely entrepreneurial businessmen." What was she thinking? Are we now to regard characters like the two on trial for trafficking in heavy drugs that irreparably harm addicts and users and eventually all of society, as "entrepreneurial businessmen?" I find this extraordinary. I also find the conditional six months of house arrest plus the return of $17,500 in cash to one of the defendants, far too mild a sentence for this type of disgusting and parasitic behaviour by the two accused. I am reminded of other countries where drug trafficking brings a death penalty and while the latter is perhaps too severe, in Canada society is subjected to wishy-washy penalties for those who profit from selling drugs. Judith Van Boxel, Sudbury - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom