香港特別行政區 訴 劉淼澄

Read the full judgment text of DCCC 913/2022 on BabelCite. This District Court judgment was delivered on 25 September 2024.

1. 本案涉及2名被告人。第1被告( D1 )與第二被告一同被控:

Cites 29 cases

Case No.DCCC 913/2022[2024] HKDC 1594
Court
District Court
Date25 Sep 2024
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

DCCC 913/2022

[2024] HKDC 1594

香港特別行政區

區域法院

刑事案件2022年第913號

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  香港特別行政區  
   
  劉淼澄  

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主審法官:  區域法院法官謝沈智慧
日期:  2024年9月25日
出席人士:  黃顯燊先生,為律政司檢控官,代表香港特別行政區
  張文諾先生,由法律援助署委派的吳建華律師行延聘,代表被告人
控罪:   [1] 串謀販運危險藥物(Conspiracy to traffic in dangerous drugs)
  [2] 販運危險藥物(Trafficking in dangerous drugs)
  [3] 至 [4] 管有他人身份證(Possessing of an identity card relating to another person)

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判刑理由書

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1.本案涉及2名被告人。第1被告(D1)與第二被告一同被控:

(i)  1項「串謀販運危險藥物」,違反香港法例第134章《危險藥物條例》第4(1)(a)及(3)條和第200章《刑事罪行條例》第159A及159C條(控罪1);

(ii)  1項「販運危險藥物」,違反香港法例第134章《危險藥物條例》第4(1)(a)及(3)條(控罪 2)。

2.另外,D1亦被控2項「管有他人的身分證」,違反香港法例第177章《人事登記條例》第7A(1A)  條(控罪3及4)。D2 則另外被控一項「吸服危險藥物」,違反香港法例第134章《危險藥物條例》第8(1)(b)及(2)條(控罪5)及一項「在體內含有任何濃度的指名毒品時駕駛汽車」,違反香港法例第374章《道路交通條例》第39K(1)條(控罪6)。

3.D1承認上述控罪1至4。D2承認控罪5及6,但否認控罪1及2。D2 的案件由另一位法官處理。按雙方的要求,本席將D1的判刑押後,等候D2審訊的結果。經審訊後D2被裁定控罪1及2均罪名成立。

4.此乃本席就D1承認的控罪的判刑理由書。

案情撮要

5.D1承認的再修訂案情撮要如下:

背景

(i)  2022年5月2日1930時,警員29108及警長59112在新界馬鞍山耀安邨一帶巡邏。約2050時,警員29108看見一輛登記號碼XW7261的士停泊在耀安邨巴士總站,開着引擎,但司機不在車上。於是,警員29108在約10米距離外作觀察,看見D1獨自坐在左邊後座乘客位,形跡可疑。約2051時,警員29108看見第二被告(D2)拿着一袋食物及一瓶飲品,步向XW7262的士。警員29108隨即步向XW7261的士查問。警員29108懷疑D1管有危險藥物,要求調派女警員到場協助。

(ii)  2022年5月2日2104時,女警員28282到達耀安邨巴士總站,並於2107時在警車AM7162內向D1搜身。女警員28282於D1的衛生巾與內褲之間發現一個透明可再封膠袋,內有51個載有白色固體的膠袋(證物1)及一個載有白色固體的透明可再封膠袋(證物2)。同日2115時,D1因「販毒」罪被拘捕;於警誡下承認:「啲毒品我收二千蚊幫人運嘅」(控罪1及2)。

(iii)  同日2118時,女警員28282還發現一張姓名為周昭鴻(控方第二證人)的香港身份證,一張姓名為陳嘉偉(控方第一證人)的香港身分證及一張姓名為黃成業的駕駛執照。D1因「管有他人身份證」及「盜竊」罪被拘捕;於警誡下說:「呢三個人爭我錢俾我做抵押嘅」(控罪3及4)。

(iv)  D1被帶往馬鞍山警署。警方檢取D1的流動電話、兩張SIM卡及現金3,110元。警方亦檢獲D2的兩部流動電話及現金5,087.50元。

調查

控方第二證人

(v)  警方找到控方第二證人,並於2022年5月4日向他查問。

(vi)  據控方第二證人所述,他是自僱送貨司機。他記得2022年4月30日進入香港島某大廈,曾拿出香港身份證。

(vii)  控方第二證人其後發現遺失身份證,但因忙於工作,沒有報失。

(viii)  控方第二證人表示不認識D1,也沒有向D1借錢。

控方第一證人

(ix)  2022年5月3日,警方向控方第一證人查問。

(x)  據控方第一證人所述,他是送貨司機。

(xi)  2022年4月26日,控方第一證人發現遺失香港身份證。他記得2022年4月25日進入沙田區某大廈送貨時,最後一次拿出身份證登記。

(xii)  控方第一證人工作繁忙,故沒有時間報失。

(xiii)  控方第一證人表示不認識D1,也沒有向D1借錢。

政府化驗師證明書

(xiv)  政府化驗師其後證實證物1為51個小包(膠包組成),載有內含8.34克可卡因的共9.14克固體,而證物2則為一個膠袋,載有內含0.55克氯胺酮的0.67克固體。

毒品的零售價格

(xv)  可卡因及氯胺酮案發當時的零售價格為:

(a)  9.14克的可卡因:港幣8,299元(粉狀)或港幣12,302元(霹靂可卡因);

(b)  0.67克的氯胺酮:港幣318元。

檢驗D1及D2各別的流動電話

(xvi)  警方初步檢驗D2的連SIM 卡電話(5477 1594),顯示D1(6033 1115)曾於2022年4月7日致電一次。

(xvii)  警方初步檢D2另一部電話連兩張SIM卡(9144 9315及6620 5687),顯示D1的聯絡號碼(6033 1115)儲存於通訊錄,儲存名稱為「寶(Cole)」。D2曾於2022年4月9日致電D1一次。D1(6084 0544)曾於2022年5月2日1952時致電D2一次。

XW7261的士行車紀錄儀

(xviii)  XW7261的士行車紀錄儀拍攝到D1及D22022年5月2日所經路線,片段要點附載於附件A。

XW7261的士行車紀錄隹片段要點

時間 描述
19:57:03 片段顯示D1在大南街來發館外等候XW7261的士
19:57:10 D1從右邊登上XW7261的士
19:57:53 XW7261的士停在大南街來發館外面
20:02:37 XW7261的士離開大南街
20:03:05 XW7261的士停在基隆街
20:03:57 XW7261的士離開基隆街
20:11:41 XW7261的士停在油麻地眾坊街公園外面
20:11:55 D2行經XW7261的士車尾
20:13:32 D2再次行經XW7261的士車尾,片段顯示他拿着一個黑色膠袋
20:13:44 XW7261的士離開眾坊街
20:16:12 XW7261的士仍在油麻地上海街便利店外面
20:17:09 XW7261的士離開上海街
20:26:36 XW7261的士停在彩雲邨小巴站
20:26:43 XW7261的士左邊乘客為車門打開
20:26:53 一名男子行向XW7261的士左邊乘客位
29:26:58 該名男子離開
29:26:59 XW7261的士駛離
20:29:35 XW7261的士停在彩雲邨便利店外,片段顯示D2行經XW7261的士車頭
20:32:20 D2回來,拿着一杯飲品
20:32:42 XW7261的士離開彩雲邨
20:44:52 XW7261的士停在馬鞍山耀安邨便利店外
20:46:21 D2由XW7261的士車尾行向便利店
20:48:39 D2與一名男警察有便利店方向行向XW7261的士

總結

(xix)  控罪1案發時,D1及D2 一同串謀非法販運危險藥物,即可卡因及氯胺酮。

(xx)  控罪2案發時,D1及D2非法販運證物1及2。

(xxi)  控罪3案發時,D1無合法權限或合理辯解而管有一張屬於他人(即控方第二證人)的香港身份證。

(xxii)  控罪4案發時,D1無合法權限或合理辯解而管有一張屬於他人(即控方第一證人)的香港身分證。

D1的背景

6.D1於2004年5月出生,現年19歲(案發時17歲),沒有刑事定罪紀錄。她未婚,於2017年來港,與父母同住。她有一妹一弟,他們均於內地與袓母同住。D1曾於澳門接受至中三教育,之後曾為侍應及裝修散工,每月給予家人3,000元作家用。

量刑原則

控罪1及2

7.販運危險藥物是極嚴重的控罪,最高刑期為終身監禁及罰款500萬元。該控罪亦是《刑事訴訟程序條例》附表3訂明的「例外控罪」。換言之,就算是年青罪犯(即16至21歲),該法例的第109A條的限制亦不適用,判處監禁前法庭無須考慮其他判刑選項。

8.因控罪嚴重,上級法院已訂明量刑指引。販運可卡因的指引與販運海洛英相同:Attorney General v Pedro Nel Rojas [1994] 1 HKC 342。根據HKSAR v Lau Tak Ming [1990] 2 HKLR 370,就1至10克的海洛英,適當的量刑起點為2至5年監禁。

9.根據上訴法院於Secretary for Justice v Hui Siew Cheng [2009] 1 HKLRD 1內的指引,販運1至10克氯胺酮適當的量刑起點為2至4年監禁。

10.另外,販運超過一類危險藥物是加刑因素:HKSAR v Islam Azharul [2020] 1 HKLRD 644及Butt Muhammad Gulzar [2020] 3 HKLRD 805。

11.辯方大律師承認,17至18歲並不算「極度年輕」(extreme youth)。就嚴重罪行,公衆利益考慮大於個別罪犯的更新需要,判處教導所並不恰當。大律師援引HKSAR v Chau Tsz Tim  and Ho Wan Chiu[2015] 1 HKLRD 853 [亦見 Secretary for Justice v Ko Fai Tat [2002] 4 HKC 59, 64; HKSAR v Bayanmunkh [2012] 2 HKC 233, 238; Lam Hak Hung v R (CACC 724/1972, 20 March 1973, unreported); R v Wilson Woo (CACC 425/1986, 13 January 1987, unreported); Attorney General v Kong Kin Man [1997] 1 HKC 537; R v Chen Chun Yeh [1997] HKCU 144]。

控罪3及4

12.該控罪最高的刑期為第六級罰款及10年監禁。於HKSAR v Li Chang Li [2005] 1 HKLRD 864一案中,上訴法庭就來港訪客管有或使用偽造或他人身份證訂定量刑指引。根據該指引,就算被告人合法留港,認罪後適當的量刑基準為12個月監禁;如被告人曾出示或使用過上述身份證,藉此非法受聘或非法延期留港,認罪後適當的量刑基準為15個月監禁。可是該量刑指引是針對來港訪客管有或使用偽造或他人的身分證,藉此獲取工作或延長留港。上訴法庭於之後的一系列案例中述明,該量刑指引不適用於香港永久居民:見HKSAR v Chan Man Mo [2001] 1 HKLRD 121及HKSAR v Fan King Lam [2011] HKCU 1875 (CACC 220/2010)。

13.雖然沒有量刑指引,但這不代表香港永久居民管有或使用偽造或他人身分證的罪責比訪客為輕。

14.Fan King Lam 案(同上),上訴法院指:

“17. While it is true that there could be no issue of seeking unlawful employment, we see no ground to say that the 12 months is not applicable in this case. In HKSAR v Lau Kwok Wo CACC181/2008, in discussing the sentence of 12 months for possessing a forged Hong Kong identity card, Yeung JA pointed out that:

“20. The Applicant is neither an illegal immigrant nor an overstayer in possession of a forged identity card or an identity card relating to another person. As Mr Wong correctly pointed out, the Applicant was a Hong Kong permanent resident and so he must have his own identity card. By possessing a forged identity card, the Applicant must have his purpose. We do not intend to speculate his purpose. But he was certainly up to no good. In view of Applicant’s offence of possessing a forged identity card is no less serious than an illegal immigrant or an overstayer possessing a forged identity card or an identity card relating to another person for finding a job or extending his stay.”

15.HKSAR v Zhen Yinfang(甄銀芳)[2012] HKCU 17,上訴法庭指:

“29. Whilst in preceding paragraphs, His Lordship elaborated on the severity of the problem of illegal employment and the need of deterrence, and in paragraph 41 a sentence of 15 months upon plea was suggested for showing or using a false identity card or an identity card belonging to another person to conceal the real identity in order to work or stay in Hong Kong, no qualifying words were used in paragraph 40. It was said, in the cases of possession of false identity, card or identity card belong to another person, even if the offender is lawfully in Hong Kong, generally speaking…, a sentence of 12 months imprisonment should be imposed upon a plea to reflect the seriousness of the offence and for deterrence.

30. In a subsequent case, HKSAR v Lau Kwok Wo(劉國和)CACC181/2008, a case of which the judgment was also written in Chinese. Yeung JA (as he then was)  said, in a case where the offender was found to be up to no good, his offence of possession of a false identity card is no less serious than an illegal immigrant or an overstayer possessing a false identity card or an identity card relating to another person for finding a job or extending his stay.

31. The latest Court of Appeal case referred to me is HKSAR v FAN King Lam CACC220/2010. In this case the Court of Appeal accepted that there is no specific tariff for a case where the offender is a Hong Kong permanent resident and not someone staying in Hong Kong by permission. Their Lord ship went on to quote the passage of Yeung JA in Lau Kwok Wo and held that the sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment, which was imposed upon a guilty plea, should not be disturbed…

44. In HKSAR v Lau Kam Ling HCMA2323/2010, Deputy High Court Judge P. Li observed:

Despite the absence of sentencing guideline for cases of this kind, there is no lack of sentencing cases involving resident using forged identity cards to commit crime. Where a starting point of 15 months being adopted…

48. In deciding the correct sentence, defining that possession of the false identity card by the appellant was for some sinister motive must be borne in mind…

16.Secretary for Justice v Wong Che Ping [2020] HKCA 246,上訴法庭指:

34. It has been stressed by the Court of Appeal that document of identity is not a plaything or collector’s item, and it is highly likely that there is an unlawful purpose for possessing someone else’s identity card. Therefore, possessing an identity card relating to another person may also attract 15 months’ imprisonment after a guilty plea…”

討論

控罪1

17.控方指兩名被告人使用涉案的士進行毒品交易。被告人答辯前,控方明確地指出,控罪1針對的是警方作調查前,兩名被告販運的毒品,而非於D1身上搜獲的毒品。控方指,涉案的士分別於不同街道停下6次,要求法庭作出推論,的士每次停下的目的是進行毒品交易;法庭可從兩名被告身上的現金及毒品零售價格推算販運毒品的數量。

18.辯方大律師指控罪1沒有指明串謀販運可卡因及氯胺酮的份量。於量刑時,法庭須盡力基於案情作推論及假設。除非案情很清晰,否則,須以對被告最有利的方式來衡量:Tsang Ka Wing [2017] 5 HKLRD 799。

19.首先,D1 答辯前,控方已明確地指出,控罪1針對的是警方作調查前,兩名被告販運的毒品,而非於D1身上搜獲的毒品。在這情況下,D1仍然承認控罪1。換言之,除了D1身上搜獲的毒品外,她承認警方到場前與D2串謀販運其他危險藥物。求情時大律師卻指除了從D1身上搜獲的毒品外,兩名被告並沒串謀販運其他毒品。該陳述與D1的答辯不符,法庭無法接受D1對控罪1的答辯。 後來大律師撤回該說法。

20.經審訊後,另一位法官裁定D2控罪1及2均罪名成立,而控罪1涉及的毒品並非從D1身上搜獲的毒品。就控罪1,審理D2案件的法官援引HKSAR v Tsang Ka Wing(曾嘉頴)[2017] 5 HKLRD 一案。該案中,上訴法庭指出,正如法庭早於 陳鑑來 一案中的論述,於串謀販運不明數量危險藥物的案件中,法庭判刑時必須盡量根據案中的事實,適當地推斷及作假設來計算案中涉及危險藥品的數量。當然,毒品數量不是唯一的判刑考慮因素,但這能提供予法庭適當的刑期起點。該起點可就加刑因素或減刑因素調整,以達到公正、公平的判刑,以反映被告人於案中的罪責。另外,法庭應以對被告人最有利的推斷及假設作為量刑基準。

21.審理D2案件的法官裁定,D2起碼於基隆街及彩雲邨小巴站曾作出毒品交易。因販運的毒品數量不明,法官遂根據曾嘉頴案,以D2身上的現金及兩類危險藥物的市價作出推算。審理D2的法官亦指沒有基礎將D1身上的現金計算在內。考慮到D2對其身上現金的解釋,法官裁定D2身上的4,717.50元為控罪1販運危險藥物的得益。案發時可卡因的零售價(每克908元)及氯胺酮的零售價(每克474元)。案情顯示本案可卡因的純度為1%,而氯胺酮的純度則為82%。以此等數據計算,如控罪1的全部毒品是可卡因,4,717.50元等同販運4.7克。根據量刑指引,適當的量刑基準為45個月監禁。如控罪1全部的毒品均為氯胺酮,4,717.50元等同販運10克,適當的量刑基準為48個月監禁。以對D2最有利的推算,法官以45個月作為量刑基準(見判刑理由書第24至30段)。

22.本席明白,除非是D1已同意的事實,針對D2的證供並不可用作針對D1。本席讓控辯雙方參閱D2的判刑理由書。辯方承認之前陳詞的計算方式已全部不適用。辯雙方同意:

(i)  控罪1所述的毒品並非控罪2於D1身上搜獲的毒品;

(ii)  警方到場前D2下車販運毒品;

(iii)  警誡下,D1承認其中2,000 元是販運毒品的報酬,對餘款則沒有解䆁。控方沒有證供推翻該說法。因此,計算椌罪1販運的毒品份數時不應考慮D1身上的現金;

(iv)  法庭應以D2身上的4717.50元作為計算基礎;

(v)  根據承認事實第15段,案發時9.14克的粉狀及固體可卡因的市價分別為8,299元及12,302元(即分別每克907.98元及1,345.95元);

(vi)  根據承認事實第15段,案發時0.67克的氯胺酮市價為318元(即每克474.62元);

(vii)  根據承認事實第14段,從D1身上搜獲的全部是固體。控方沒有資料顯示該可卡因是粉狀或晶體。因此法庭應以對D1最有利的基礎作計算(即每克1,345.95元)。

23.根據以上基礎,如控罪1的毒品全為可卡因,販運的數量為3.5克。沒有爭議本案可卡因的純度為91%;因此,販運的可卡因為3.185克;根據量刑指引,適當的量刑基準為35.44個月監禁。

24.根據以上基礎,如控罪1的毒品全為氯胺酮。以4717.50元計算,販運的毒品為9.938克。沒有爭議本案氯胺酮的純度為82%;因此,販運的氯胺酮為8.15克;根據量刑指引,適當的量刑基準為43.06個月監禁。

25.因法庭無法得知被販運的毒品是可卡因、氯胺酮或兩類皆有,只可以對D1最有利的角度量刑,採納最低的量刑基準,即35.44個月監禁。因法庭將所有毒品視作可卡因,沒有販運超過一類毒品的加刑因素。

控罪2

26.該控罪涉及8.34克可卡因及0.55克氯胺酮。按判刑指引,販運8.34克可卡因適當的量刑起點為54.01個月監禁,販運0.55克氯胺酮的刑期則由法庭酌情決定,但少於2年監禁。

27.當販運超過一類危險藥物時,法庭可考慮「綜合方式」作量刑,並以三種方法測試:「荒謬法」(Absurdity test)、「轉換法」(Conversion test)及「比例法」(Ratio test):HKSAR v Chan Yuk Leong CACC 318/2013。

28.以「綜合方式」量刑,按判刑指引:

(i)  以「荒謬法」測試,兩種危險藥物的總重量為8.89克。若全部為可卡因,量刑起點約為55.99個月監禁;如所有毒品均為氯胺酮,量刑起點為45個月監禁。

(ii)  以「轉換發」測試,以毒性較強且份量較多的可卡因為量刑基準。可是0.55克氯胺酮份量太少,刑期由法庭酌情處理,因此無法以數學計算。如將涉案的8.34克可卡因轉換作氯胺酮,等同販運20克氯胺酮,即氯胺酮的總份量為20.55克。根據量刑指引,販運20.55克氯胺酮的量刑起點約為54.33個月監禁;

(iii)  以「比例法」測試,可卡因與氯胺酮份量的比例約為93.81%及6.19%。控罪2毒品的總重量為8.89克。如所有毒品均為可卡因,按量刑指引,量刑起點為55.99個月監禁。按比例計算,8.34克的量刑起點為52.52個月監禁。如所有毒品均為氯胺酮,按量刑指引,量刑起點為45個月監禁。按比例計算,0.55克的量刑起點為2.78個月監禁;即總量刑起點為55.3個月監禁。

29.以最寬太的方式處理,控罪2適當的量刑起點為54.33個月監禁。

控罪3及4

30.上訴法院已指出,身份證並非玩物或收藏品。單憑D1管有他人身分證已足以推斷她打算用該2張身分證為非作歹。本席認為,每項控適當量刑起點為18個月監禁。

減刑因素

31.D1適時認罪,可獲三份一的扣減。雖然D1年輕,但年齢並非萬靈丹,面對嚴重控罪時,被告人的年齡及個人背景變得微不足道。Sentencing in Hong Kong 11th edition指出:

“ [30-26] Youth notwithstanding, the court, must keep in mind the classical principles of sentencing which, apart from rehabilitation, include retribution, deterrence and prevention: Attorney General v Fong Ming Yuen [1989] 1 HKC 327. The interests of the community as a whole must also be considered: Attorney General v Law Yang Cheung [1981] HKC 161, 163….This means, for example, that the youth of the accused who commits a serious robbery will count for little: R v Chung Man kit [1990] 1 HKC 87,89. Like considerations apply to the young offender who traffics in a dangerous drug: Secretary for Justice v Ko Fei Tat [2002] 4 HKC 59, 64; Secretary for Justice v Tang King Wa [2023] 4 HKC 288. In HKSAR v Bayanmunkh [2012] 2 HKC 233, 238, McWalters J said the courts were at pains ‘to make it clear that no special consideration will be accorded to the young, the aged, the ill or disadvantaged or financially impoverished, who are recruited to become drug couriers’.

[30-27] In Re Applications for Review of Sentences [1972] HKLR 370, 417, it was explained that: “The personality, youth or personal circumstances of the offender may pale into insignificance because of the magnitude or prevalence of the offence in question”. If serious crimes are committed by young person, they cannot expect to turn their age to their advantage upon conviction. The courts, instead, must be prepared to “steel themselves, unless there are particularly powerful and peculiar contrary reasons attaching to the circumstances of the offender and his involvement in the offence, to the imposition of substantial prison terms”: HKSAR v Law Ka Kit and Ors [2003] 2 HKC 178, 187.

[30-35] … Were it otherwise, ‘those who are inveigled into taking part in the manufacture and trafficking of dangerous drugs will be the lame, the halt, the blind, the young and the old - people who may have some ground for pleading for the mercy of the court if they are, in fact arrested: Lam Hak Hung v R (CACC 724/1972, 20 March 1974, unreported), as approved in Attorney General v Chan Chi Mei Wah [1990] 1 HKLR 190, 193…”

32.除認罪外,沒有其他減刑因素。因此,未計加刑因素,4項控罪的刑期減為:

控罪 量刑起點 減刑後的刑期
1 35.44個月監禁 23.62個月監禁
2 54.33個月監禁 36.22個月監禁
3 18個月監禁 12個月監禁
4 18個月監禁 12個月監禁

總刑期

33.辯方大律師指4項控罪均源自同一事件,要求法庭下令兩組控罪的刑期同期執行。

34.首先,本席必須指出,雖然同一日期發生,控罪1及2涉及不同的毒品,法庭應考慮毒品的總份量。控罪3及4與其他2項控罪全無關係,刑期理應全部分期執行。

35.另外,本席亦不同意,刑期應否同期執行在於控罪是否源自同一交易。於HKSAR v Ngai Yiu Ching(倪耀偵)[2011] 6 HKC 238,上訴法院裁定:

“18. It was in an attempt to safeguard fairness to the offender by ensuring that he was not punished twice for the same conduct that the courts developed the "one transaction" rule. In essence, this rule said that if the number of offences have been charged arising from the one transaction or course of criminal conduct, then concurrent sentences should be imposed.

19. The one transaction rule was not developed as an inflexible rule of law. It was never intended as anything more than a practical rule of thumb to guide judges in the exercise of the power to impose consecutive sentences so that the final sentence was not one that was unfair to an offender.

20. However, once stated, this practical working rule tended to develop a life of its own and has led to some difficulty in its application. Judicial dicta explained what was meant by "one course of criminal conduct" and exceptions to the rule developed… All of this, understandably enough, became material for advocates who sought to argue that the multiple offences of which their client had been convicted were part of one transaction and that it inevitably followed that the correct sentence was one where all the sentences were concurrent.

21. There are several problems associated with this line of reasoning. First it runs the risk of elevating a practical working rule to a rule of law, thereby providing an opportunity to argue that departure from it inevitably meant that the sentence imposed on the client was excessive. Secondly, it tends to obscure the real point which is not whether two or more offences are committed at about the same time, but whether the second or other further offences add to the culpability or criminality of the first. Thirdly, it ignores the reality that whatever sentence is arrived at after application of the rule is still subject to the totality principle.

23. The emphasis therefore should be on a reflection in the sentence of true culpability disclosed by the offences of which the accused has been convicted. This is an approach which this court has consistently adopted in recent times. It is likely to be a more effective approach in reflecting an offender’s overall culpability than one which becomes overly concerned with the one transaction rule, although in the case of more than one offence, the court must guard carefully against punishing twice for the same act. If the second offence which takes place in the course of the suggested single episode adds to the culpability of the first offence, it will normally follow that the sentence for the second offence will run wholly or partially consecutive to that for the first; to what extent, if at all, will depend upon an assessment of the totality appropriate for the conduct as a whole. As with most sentencing exercises, the approach is an art, sensitive to the individual circumstances of the case and the offender.”

36.辯方大律師提及香港特別行政區 訴 王樂文 [2023] HKDC 362。該案的被告人22歲,曾獲中二程度教育,沒有刑事定罪紀錄案情顯示他坐在私家車的司機位,被警員截停搜查。被告人承認非法販運5.12克可卡因及3.94克氯胺酮及管有3張他人身份證。區域法院法官李慶年考慮過有關判刑指引後,就「販運危險藥物」,採納「綜合方式」量刑;就3項「管有他人身份證」,每項控罪均以18個月監禁作為量刑基準,扣除認罪折扣後每項控罪判處12個月監禁,3項控罪的刑期同期執行,而「販運危險藥物」的刑期亦部份與上述3項控罪同期執行。

37.上述判刑是同級法院的判決。眾所周知,同級法院的判刑對本席全無約束力。

38.律政司司長 對 唐健帮及另二人 [2023] HKCA 896第35至36段,上訴法庭指出:

「35. 第一,雙方於本案存檔了多份區域法院的判刑理由書,希望藉此支持己方立場。本庭在 律政司司長 訴 溫達揚一案第27段已指出:

「…因為這些判刑,從來就沒有經過上訴而被肯定,也沒有什麼量刑原則可言,對量刑既沒有約束力也沒有參考價值,根本起不了任何指導作用,根本不應稱之為『案例』…」

…任何單純對案件判刑作出比較的做法,都不能協助本庭處理原審判刑是否恰當這個議題。歸根究底,控罪要旨(gravamen of the offence)及適用的量刑因素才是重點所在,而非個別案件的判刑。

36. 高等法院原訟法庭法官潘兆初(當時官階)於馬廸倫案已重申:

「本庭認為,把不同案件的判刑比較,並非對量刑的正確處理方法,因為每宗案件的情節不盡相同,比較判刑的意義不大。」

39.香港特別行政區 對 劉晉旭 [2023] HKCA 1098,上訴法庭於第51段又再重申:

「在完結前特別一提。申請方曾在他們的書面陳詞援引區域法院另一宗二號橋暴動案的原審判刑(香港特別行政區 訴 陳起行 [2021] HKDC 874),作為適用蔡家輝案的支點以支持本案量刑基準過高的主張,結果終被勸退。本庭已在過往指出過多次,在今年的律政司司長 對 唐健帮及另二人[2023] HKCA 896(判案理由書日期:2023年8月25日)又再重申:未經上訴的原審判刑對同級法院沒有約束力,對上訴法庭也沒有任何參考價值,不應被業界用作上訴時的依據。」

40.控罪1及2共涉及11.52克可卡因及0.55克氯胺酮。如以「荒謬法」計算,將所有涉案毒品(12.07克)當作可卡,適當的量刑起點為61.86個月監禁。以「轉換法」計算,將可卡因轉換成氯胺酮的話,11.52克可卡因適當的量刑起點為61.36個月監禁,等同約32克氯胺酮。販運32克氯胺酮的量刑起點為61.5個月監禁。毒品總份量為12.07克。如所有毒品為可卡因,量刑起點為61.86個月監禁;如所有毒品為氯胺酮,量刑起點則為49.24個月監禁。按比例,11.52克可卡因和0.55克氯胺酮的比例分別為95.44%及4.556%。以比例法計算,可卡因及氯胺酮的量刑起點分別為58.86個月及2.8個月,即量刑起點為61.66個月。

41.無論如何測試,未計算控罪2的加刑因素,控罪1及2的總量刑起點應為61個月監禁。如上文所述,販運超過一類危險藥物是加刑因素。考慮到本案氯胺酮的份量較少,本席只將總量刑基準上調3個月,即總量刑起點為64個月監禁。扣除認罪的三份一折扣後,刑期應為42.66個月監禁(折合為42.5個月)。因此,本席下令,控罪1判處23.5個月監禁;控罪2判處36個月監禁,控罪2的其中的19個月與控罪1分期執行(即共42.5個月監禁)。

42.HKSAR v Fan King Lam [2011] HKCU 1875 (CACC 220/2010),被告人承認一項販運危險藥物(控罪1)及一項管有他人身份證(控罪2)。案情指被告人被警方截停搜查,警方於被告人身上搜獲大量毒品及空置的透明膠袋和1個電子磅等。另外,警方亦於被告人的右後褲袋找到2張香港身份證。調查顯示該2張身份證是真的身份證,但警方找不到身份證的持有人。判刑時,原審法官運用Li Chang Li的量刑指引,被告人認罪後,就控罪2判處一般的12個月監禁,與控罪1的刑期完全分期執行。被告人不服判刑提出上訴。上訴時,被告人援引2件裁判法院的判刑案件及HKSAR v Chan Man Mo [2001] 1 HKLRD 121。上訴法院駁回上訴,指:

“20. In the present case, although the cards were not forged and the defendant was a Hong Kong permanent resident, we are of the view that, given the circumstances, 12 months after plea is neither wrong in principle nor manifestly excessive, particularly when the applicant was in possession of two identity cards relating to another.

21. Equally, the order of consecutive term is appropriate in the circumstance. The point about remorse and a genuine desire to change for the better would not justify any further reduction in the sentence.”

43.控罪3及4與其他兩項控罪完全無關,理應分期執行。況且,D1干犯多項控罪乃加刑因素。就該兩項控罪,每項控罪判處12個月監禁,控罪3及4的刑期同期執行,但與控罪1及2分期執行,即總刑期為54.5個月(即4年6.5個月)監禁。

( 謝沈智慧 )
區域法院法官