A police search, stemming from officer seeing a common household fertiliser perched on top of a hot water system, has seen one Griffith man convicted of cultivating one cannabis plant.
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Paul Hendrick Lok, 62, had his property searched by police from Murrumbidgee Proactive Crime Team in February as a result of "ongoing investigations into cannabis cultivation".
Facts tendered to Griffith Local Court said police identified his house as being of interest because they observed CCTV cameras protruding from the garage wall vent as well as on the veranda to record people walking up the driveway.
They also observed Seasol located on top of the hot water system outside the house, "which is indicative of cannabis cultivation as it is used as a fertiliser for cannabis plants."
Lok was seated outside his house when police arrived to search the property, for which he gave his consent, and remained "fully compliant" throughout the whole process.
A single cannabis plant, one metre tall, was found.
When officers brought him to the courtyard to question him, he admitted it was his and said the plant was used for medicinal purposes.
He told police he was growing it for a relative who had a kidney transplant, who said that cannabis was the only thing giving this person relief from the pain. Having had the plant for three months, Lok said he watered it regularly and had just brought it inside so it wouldn't die from the heat.
When he asked what he was going to do with the plant, he said he would return the plant to the person who gave it to him so he they could make biscuits. Police seized the plant for destruction upon conviction.
When Lok came before magistrate Joy Boulos, she asked him what the story was.
"No story, I am pleading guilty," he stated.
She read through the facts, saying police were investigating cannabis cultivation, and said that Seasol on the water system tipped them off, which "apparently is indicative" of cannabis cultivation.
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"You've admitted it was yours, growing for a relative with a kidney transplant. You've made full admissions to police, what do you have to say?" she asked.
"Nothing," he repeated.
Given his early plea, minimal record and first offence of this kind, the fact it was one plant and his full admissions, Ms Boulos convicted him for cultivating the plant and gave him a six month community corrections order.
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