HKSAR v. Wen Zhenhui

DCCC 850/2012

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

CRIMINAL CASE NO. 850 OF 2012

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Reasons for Sentence

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Charge

1.The defendant pleads guilty to the theft of wood chips of Aquilaria sinensis, commonly known as Incense Tree from the hillside of Ha Yeung New Village, Ha Yeung San Tsuen Road, New Territories.  

Facts

2.In the afternoon of 20 July 2012, the police were patrolling in plainclothes at the said hillside.  They saw the defendant in the bush squatting with a firewood knife in his hand.  They asked him to put down the knife, which he did.  After being arrested for theft and cautioned, he said he had cut some wood chips from the Incense Tree but could not remember the exact location. 

3.He was carrying a black rucksack, which contained wood chips.  A grey rucksack was beside him, which contained woodchips, a handsaw, 2 hoes each of 35 cm long, 2 shovels of 24 cm and 26 cm respectively, 1 awl of 17 cm long, 2 pairs of gloves and 2 pieces of grindstone. 

4.In a video-recorded interview, he admitted having the 2 rucksacks. 

5.The wood chips were confirmed by the botanical expert, Dr. Pang, to be a species of Aquilaria sinensis.  They weighed 5.81 kg in total.  The estimated value was $506,700.  It was a protected endangered species and the only species known to produce Chen Xiang in Hong Kong.  Illegal felling can irreversibly disrupt the ecological balance. Consequently, great loss will be caused to the community. 

Enhancement of sentence

6.The prosecution seeks to have the sentence enhanced pursuant to s. 27(2)(d) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, Cap. 455.  The defence has no submissions. 

Personal background and mitigation

7.The defendant is aged 46, a Chinese Mainlander on a two-way permit to Hong Kong.  He is a farmer with little education.  His wife has to look after their children aged from 11 to 20 years.  His father is aged 78.  The defendant is the sole breadwinner.  He intended to sell the wood chips in his home town for RMB¥800.  He has a clear record in Hong Kong.       

8.His solicitor asks me to adopt a sentence lower than that of a rather oft-cited case, HKSAR v. Xie Jinbin（謝錦彬）CACC 195/2010, in which the applicant received a sentence of 2 ½ years.  

Examples of sentences

9.In HKSAR v. Wen Zelang （溫澤浪）CACC 220/2006, the appellant and 3 others each held a two-way permit to Hong Kong.  In Lautau, they took wood chips from a mature Incense Tree, a total weight of 5.6 kg.  A starting point of 3 years, down by one-third for the plea of guilty, and an enhancement of 25% were approved by the Court of Appeal in a clear echo of the ecological concern raised by the botanical expert arising out of illegal exploitation of the materials from Incense Tree.  The eventual sentence ought to have been 2 ½ years but that of the appellant was reduced to 2 years on appeal, only because he was notably influenced by the adult co-defendant who reared him at childhood. 

10.In Xie Jinbin (above), the applicant and 3 others took wood chips from a mature Incense Tree, a total weight of 1.181 kg.  The police also seized a hoe and a knife.  A starting point of 3 years, down by one-third for the plea of guilty, and an enhancement of 25% were approved by the Court of Appeal. 

Sentencing this defendant

11.He could not remember the exact location of the damaged trees.  I have to assess the harm done by drawing upon circumstantial evidence.  Although not aided by any accomplices as in Xie Jinbin, he possessed a much wider range of tools.  I have no doubt that such an abundance of tools had caused serious damage to the Incense Tree, hence the ecological system, in his acquisition of the wood chips.  Besides, the quantity he reaped (5.81 kg) was much more than that of Xie Jinbin (1.181 kg).  Counterbalancing these factors, he was no less culpable than Xie Jinbin.

12.A starting point of 3 years is warranted.  One-third off for his plea of guilty, it becomes 2 years.  He has no other mitigating factors.  I take a 25% enhancement.  His sentence is 2 ½ years.