The Queen v. Nam Ching Shan

Read the full judgment text of HCMA 277/1985 on BabelCite. This High Court CFI judgment.

1. This was an appeal against conviction on a charge of evasion of liability by deception. The facts as found by the magistrate were that the appellant had obtained student bus card from a friend and when he was found with it by the police made a statement in which he said that he had used the card in order to obtain concessionary rates on buses.

Case No.HCMA 277/1985
Court
High Court CFI
Date
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

HCMA000277/1985

MAGISTRACY APPEAL
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

No. 277 OF 1985

(Appellate Jurisdiction)

BETWEEN:-

The Queen Respondent

AND

NAM Ching-shan Appellant

_________________

Coram: The Honourable Mr. Justice Penlinaton in Court

Date of hearing: 10th April 1985

Date of delivery of judgment: 10th April 1985

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JUDGMENT

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Preliminary

1. This was an appeal against conviction on a charge of evasion of liability by deception. The facts as found by the magistrate were that the appellant had obtained student bus card from a friend and when he was found with it by the police made a statement in which he said that he had used the card in order to obtain concessionary rates on buses.

Conviction

2. The whole issue here turned on whether the appellant's confession statement was admissible and if it was what weight should be out on it. The magistrate was of the view that it was perfectly voluntary statement and that he could place sufficient weight on it to convict the appellant of the offence. I see no reason whatever why I should disagree with that finding of fact.

Sentence

3. The appellant was bound over in the sum of $500.00 for one year and he was fined $400.00 and the magistrate ordered that the conviction be recorded. The appellant is aged 18 and has a clear record. If it had not been for his own confession made to the police the charge could not have been brought against him. I therefore granted leave to the appellant to appeal out of time against sentence and allowed the appeal against sentence to the extent that I ordered that no conviction should be recorded.

(R.G. Penlington)
Judge of the High Court

Representation:

P.V. Conlon, C.C. for the Respondent/Crown.

Appellant, NAM Ching-shan in person.