The Appeal Court increased from nine to 12 years the prison sentence imposed on a young person who was convicted in 2023 of possessing 13 kilos of drugs with the intent to supply.
The court upheld the Attorney-General’s appeal that the sentence was inadequate, ruling that the large quantity of drugs — 12 kilos and 900 grams — justified a three-year increase.
The convicted person had admitted before the Limassol Criminal Court that on September 20, 2023, he had in his possession 13 kilos of cannabis plant, from which resin had not been extracted, with the intention of supplying it to other people.
The Appeal Court agreed with the first-instance court, which rejected the reason given by the defendant for committing the serious offences — his financial hardship.
The three Appeal Court judges said financial hardship “can in no way justify the serious illegal conduct he displayed”.
They said the respondent should have sought lawful sources of income instead of giving in to temptation and seeking quick financial gain through his illegal activity.