Zi Wang v Graham Darby

The defendant deliberately breached the freezing injunction by failing to disclose significant cryptocurrency assets and made a knowingly false statement in a witness statement, constituting serious contempts requiring immediate custodial sentences.

Parties: Claimant: Zi Wang; Defendant: Graham Darby
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Judgment Date: 09 February 2024
Procedural Posture: Committal Application (contempt of Court) / Sentencing Judgment
Outcome: Defendant sentenced to immediate imprisonment for contempt of court.
Legal Topics: Freezing Injunctions, Asset Disclosure, False Statements, Sentencing for Contempt

Civil Procedure Contempt of Court Freezing Injunctions Asset Disclosure False Statements Sentencing for Contempt

Case Brief

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Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 7 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 4

Parties

Zi Wang

Claimant

Graham Darby

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Committal Application (contempt of Court) / Sentencing Judgment

Legal Issues

1 Whether the defendant breached the terms of a freezing injunction by failing to disclose assets
2 Whether the defendant made a false statement in a witness statement in purported compliance with the order
3 Appropriate sentence for contempt of court in these circumstances

Ratio Decidendi

Court Disposition

Defendant sentenced to immediate imprisonment for contempt of court.

Orders

18 months' imprisonment for breach of paragraph 13(1) of the order (failure to disclose assets)
18 months' imprisonment concurrent for breach of paragraph 14 of the order (defective witness statement)