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| Kowloon City Court to decide if drug use led defendant to steal |
By Vir B. Lumicao
A Filipina’s drug-induced dementia had driven her to steal
five bottles of perfume worth nearly $2,000 from the same cosmetics shop in
Mong Kok on two consecutive days this January, the Kowloon City Court was told.
The defendant, Gladys de Vera, pleaded guilty on Jan 28 to
two theft charges before Magistrate Woo Huey-fang arising from those offenses.
The prosecution charged that De Vera, whose visa status was
not disclosed, went to a SASA store on Nathan Road
The next day, the defendant returned to the store and stole
three more bottles of perfume worth a total of $1,120.
The defense counsel assigned by the Duty Lawyer Service
reported that the drug report sought by the magistrate indicated that the
defendant had tested positive for drug use.
The lawyer said the second report, prepared by a
psychiatrist, confirmed that De Vera had drug-induced dementia that was
probably caused by substance abuse.
Magistrate Woo said the court would request a drug treatment
report before sentencing De Vera.
