Guraj, R v

Guraj, R v

The combination of prosecution delays and breaches, including the making of a forfeiture order during the postponement period, triggered section 14(12) of POCA, which expressly prohibits reliance on section 14(11) to save the confiscation order. As a result, the court was deprived of the power to make the confiscation order, and the order must be quashed.

Parties
Respondent: Regina; Appellant: Lodvik Guraj
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
06 March 2015
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal From Crown Court to Court of Appeal
Outcome
Appeal allowed; confiscation order quashed.
Legal Topics
Confiscation Proceedings, Proceeds of Crime Act, Forfeiture Orders, Procedural Compliance, Postponement of Proceedings

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 13 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Regina

Respondent

Lodvik Guraj

Appellant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal From Crown Court to Court of Appeal

  1. 1 Whether substantial breaches of sections 14 and 15 of POCA invalidate confiscation proceedings even if completed within two years
  2. 2 Whether section 14(11) of POCA can save a confiscation order where a forfeiture order was wrongly made during the postponement period

Ratio Decidendi

The combination of prosecution delays and breaches, including the making of a forfeiture order during the postponement period, triggered section 14(12) of POCA, which expressly prohibits reliance on section 14(11) to save the confiscation order. As a result, the court was deprived of the power to make the confiscation order, and the order must be quashed.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; confiscation order quashed.

Orders

  • The confiscation order is quashed.