Auckland (Avneet Kaur)
Two men convicted over what has been described as the largest methamphetamine importation operation in New Zealand’s history have lost their final legal challenge, with the Supreme Court refusing to reduce their sentences.
Baltej Singh and Himatjit Singh Kahlon had asked the country’s highest court to review the 10-year minimum non-parole periods attached to their prison sentences. Singh is serving 22 years in prison, while Kahlon was sentenced to 21 years.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the scale of the offending and the enormous harm caused by the drug operation justified both the lengthy jail terms and the minimum periods of imprisonment.
The case centred on an international drug syndicate that smuggled hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into New Zealand. Investigators found that up to 741 kilograms of methamphetamine had been concealed inside beer and kombucha bottles before being imported into the country.
The court said the seriousness of the operation meant that deterrence and accountability had to remain key factors in sentencing.
Baltej Singh was identified as one of the leading figures in the New Zealand arm of the operation. Court records show he rented a storage facility used to process the drugs, while police also found more than $121,000 in cash in his vehicle during the investigation.
Kahlon played a lesser role in the organisation but was also convicted of manslaughter following the death of his 21-year-old co-worker, Aiden Sagala. The young man died after consuming a methamphetamine-contaminated beer can that had been given to him by Kahlon.
During earlier court proceedings, Kahlon argued that he was heavily influenced by Singh and had acted out of loyalty towards him. However, judges rejected that argument, finding it difficult to accept that someone would become involved in a large-scale drug operation involving hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine simply because of personal loyalty.
Both men had previously appealed their sentences in the Court of Appeal but were unsuccessful.
In its latest ruling, the Supreme Court said there was no indication that a miscarriage of justice had occurred and found no reason to revisit the sentences imposed by the lower courts.
The judges concluded that the scale of the drug importation, the risks posed to the community and the devastating consequences of the offending required the sentences to remain in place.
