Hksar v Harjani Haresh Murlidhar

Judgment Date16 May 2018
Neutral Citation[2018] HKCFA 26
Year2018
Judgement NumberFAMC60/2017
Subject MatterMiscellaneous Proceedings (Criminal)
CourtCourt of Final Appeal (Hong Kong)
FAMC60/2017 HKSAR v. HARJANI HARESH MURLIDHAR

FAMC No. 60 of 2017

[2018] HKCFA 26

IN THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

MISCELLANEOUS PROCEEDINGS NO. 60 OF 2017 (CRIMINAL)

(ON APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL

FROM CACC NO. 352 OF 2015)

_____________________

BETWEEN

HKSAR
Respondent
and
HARJANI HARESH MURLIDHAR Applicant

_____________________

Appeal Committee: Mr Justice Ribeiro PJ, Mr Justice Tang PJ and Mr Justice Stock NPJ
Date of Hearing and Determination: 16 May 2018

__________________________________

DETERMINATION

__________________________________

Mr Justice Ribeiro PJ:

1. This is our ruling on this application for leave to appeal.

2. The applicant was convicted of conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence[1] and sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years and 9 months.[2]

3. Although the Court of Appeal held that the Judge had erred in law regarding the mens rea requirements of the offence,[3] it upheld the verdict on the basis that the Judge’s findings showed that “by a perfectly proper route, the judge reached a concluded view that the appellant’s claim as to his beliefs was not truthful” and that the offence had accordingly been duly proved.[4]

4. The application for leave to appeal was lodged on the substantial and grave injustice basis, the applicant contending that the Court of Appeal did not have any valid alternative basis for upholding the conviction.

5. Prior to the hearing, the Appeal Committee wrote to the parties indicating that it wished to be addressed on the question whether there is a case for certification and leave to appeal on the following question:

“Whether wilful blindness is a sufficient basis for sustaining liability under section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, Cap 455.”

6. Having heard the parties’ submissions, we are satisfied that leave to appeal should be granted both on the aforesaid question (which we consider to be important and reasonably arguable) and on the basis that it is reasonably arguable that a substantial and grave injustice has occurred. We certify and grant leave to appeal on that basis.

7. The appeal will be heard on 18 October 2018.

...

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1 cases
  • Hksar v Harjani Haresh Murlidhar
    • Hong Kong
    • Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong)
    • 5 December 2019
    ...para 50. [20] Ibid. para 65. [21] Amended Application for Leave to Appeal dated 19 April 2018. [22] Ribeiro and Tang PJJ, Stock NPJ, [2018] HKCFA 26, FAMC 60/2017, Determination dated 16 May 2018. [23] Ma CJ, Ribeiro and Fok PJJ, Stock and Lord Phillips NPJJ, FACC 17/2018. [24] (2014) 17 HK......

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