Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man was given 30 days in jail after pleading guilty Friday to possession of crack cocaine.

RCMP found Hoa Do, 30, to have 10 individually wrapped pieces of crack cocaine in his possession outside the Discovery Inn Hotel on April 9, 2008.

"In this jurisdiction cocaine is becoming much more prevalent," said Crown prosecutor Sandy Aitken. She asked deputy judge Leon Wenden for a sentence of two to three months in prison.

Defence attorney Jay Bran argued that Do never actually used the crack cocaine and that he only purchased it after friends told him drugs would help him sleep.

"He unfortunately was given some bad advice and unfortunately took that advice," said Bran. "He's glad he never did use the crack cocaine."

Bran said Do has also faced hardship in the many delays he has had in attempting to get his wife and two children to Canada from Vietnam. Do was noted as having a criminal record, but it was not lengthy and his offences are unrelated to the drug charge.

Wenden said he did not feel Do should receive two to three months as the Crown suggested. He sentenced Do to 30 days in jail on an intermittent basis.

Do is to report to the North Slave Correctional Centre on weekends so that he can continue to work during the week.