Rachid Chahine convicted for dial a dealer cocaine
A magistrate was scathing of a young dial a dealer who even tested positive while completing the court’s rehab program in the lead up to his sentencing.
Wentworth Courier
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A dial a dealer who has been using a cocktail of drugs since he was a teenager tested positive even while completing the court’s addiction rehab program when he was on bail a court has heard.
Arncliffe’s Rachid Chahine, 22, appeared before Waverley Local Court on Wednesday facing charges of supplying 0.61g of cocaine outside the Robin Hood Hotel in Waverley and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Magistrate Ross Hudson convicted and sentenced him to a 12 month Community Corrections Order with mandatory drug testing and counselling for the first six months for the supply charge.
He was convicted, fined $500 and ordered to forfeit the $600 in cash officers found him with when they sprung him mid drug deal on March 6.
Magistrate Hudson explicitly warned Chahine not to use any illegal drugs or risk a far more serious punishment.
Chahine’s solicitor told the court his client was dependent on cannabis by age 17, started using cocaine at 18, was into GHB by 20 and also dabbled in Valium.
However the court heard Chahine had “come to grips with his addiction” and had been “focusing on a healthier lifestyle including eating better and exercising” since completing the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment program.
“It’s not about (using) a little bit. It’s about abstinence, it’s about no use,” said Magistrate Hudson referring to the six month drug testing condition.
“There’s no ‘I’ll take a little bit and it is fine’. Is that understood?
“I make that comment on the basis there were still positive urines during the process of MERIT.”
Chahine attempted to interject.
“Oh that was because …” Chahine said.
“I don’t want to hear it,” Magistrate Hudson interrupted.
“No drugs whatsoever. They’ll test you, they’ll screen you and if it comes back positive it will come back before me.”
The court heard Chahine left Kogarah High School part way through year 12 and began working at McDonald’s and a number of small businesses owned by his family.
Last year he lost his father which devastated him but he has recently got back on track by working as a bricklayer and helping out his mother and three younger sisters with who he lives.