The Queensland government could change its laws amid backlash over Mam’s case.
Following Ezra Mam’s contentious drug-related driving sentence, which a leading criminal defense attorney has called “extremely lenient,” the Attorney General of Queensland said the state may consider amending its rules. In the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, the Brisbane Broncos player was fined $850 and banned from driving for six months.
After colliding with another car in October, the 21-year-old NRL player was accused with driving under the influence of drugs and without a license. Although Mam was not charged with anything related to the crash and no conviction was announced, a four-year-old girl was said to have suffered a shattered hip in the incident.
Mam was reprimanded by Magistrate Mark Nolan for his “stupid decision” to drive without a license while under the influence of a “cocktail of drugs,” which included cocaine. However, Queensland’s Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has pointed out that the $850 fine Mam received is less than the state’s penalty for using a mobile phone while driving, which is approximately $1200 and carries four demerit points. This has caused outrage in the community.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie of Queensland called Mam’s penalty “disgraceful” and “a slap on the wrist,” while the Attorney-General stated that it might compel the state to amend its legislation. In a statement, Ms. Frecklington said, “I can understand that for many Queenslanders, this outcome doesn’t pass the pub test.” “The majority of Queenslanders would anticipate that the punishment for a motorist found to have drugs in their system would be harsher than the punishment for using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. I’ll be discussing potential adjustments to our laws with my colleagues, especially the minister of transportation.”
Debate rages over how the NRL should punish Ezra Mam
After allegedly telling police at the scene that he knew his license had been suspended due to lost demerit points, Mam entered a guilty plea on Monday to driving while a relevant substance was present in his blood and driving without a license. With calls for the NRL to take harsh action against the five-eighth due to his controversial sentence, all eyes will now be on his penalty.
According to earlier reports, the NRL is considering imposing a 12-week ban against Mam. Former NRL player Scott Sattler, however, is unsure if the league would be able to impose such a severe fine due to the precedent that has already been set, given how light his punishment was in court on Monday.
Josh Addo-Carr was fined $682 and banned from driving for three months. Four games were suspended by the NRL. Sattler stated on SEN radio that Braydon Trindall missed five games and received a $1100 fine in addition to a three-month driving suspension. “You have to assume that the NRL penalty will last between four and six weeks based on the precedent that has been established. There is no way it could be more serious than that. The standard has been established.
Questions raised over Ezra Mam’s penalty and stint in rehab
Leading Sydney criminal attorney Paul McGirr, however, told News Corp that he would anticipate Mam receiving a suspension of up to 16 weeks when he questioned if his four-week stay in rehab was sufficient. Additionally, Mr. McGirr stated that he would not be shocked if the Crown appealed Mam’s “extremely lenient” sentencing.
Since Mr. Mam’s recuperation has only lasted a month, I say this. Drug addiction treatment must be continuous and last for at least six to twelve months, according to McGirr. It would be unjust to Mr. Mam and his teammates to put him in the pressure cooker of rugby league when he still has these underlying problems. The challenging scenario is that the NRL now has the responsibility of properly punishing this specific offense. And if the Crown didn’t file an appeal in this specific case, I would be shocked.”
According to Hader Clinic Queensland, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Brisbane, 30-day treatment programs are helpful for those who may have a short-term addiction, but research indicates that extended treatment programs have a “greater likelihood of long-term abstinence and recovery.” Those with “short-term addiction where there are no complex or long-term consequences of their addiction to address” can benefit from 30-day programs, such as the one Mam received, according to the statement.
Mr. McGirr concurs that Mam’s punishment for driving under the influence of narcotics, without a license, and injuring three people in a car accident “fails the pub test,” even though that may be the case with the Broncos five-eighth. Additionally, the Brisbane star would receive a new sentence in a district court if the Crown successfully appeals his conviction.
