香港特別行政區 訴 曾國財
Bail pending appeal was refused because the applicant failed to demonstrate a reasonably arguable appeal or disclose material grounds at trial (his assertion about other drivers and keys was newly raised), the sentence was substantial and unlikely to be served on appeal, and personal/family circumstances did not...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] HKCA 1153
- Parties
- Respondent: 香港特別行政區; Applicant: 曾國財
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Hong Kong
- Judgment Date
- 16 October 2019
- Case Number
- CACC227/2019
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal (conviction and Sentence) / Application for Leave to Appeal and Bail Pending Appeal
- Outcome
- bail pending appeal refused
- Legal Topics
- Importation of Unmanifested Goods, Knowledge/possession, Evidential Burden, Leave to Appeal, Bail Pending Appeal, Sentencing
- Source Language
- ch
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
香港特別行政區
Respondent
曾國財
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal (conviction and Sentence) / Application for Leave to Appeal and Bail Pending Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether there are arguable grounds to grant leave to appeal against conviction for importing unmanifested goods under Import and Export Ordinance s18(1)(a)
- 2 Whether the appellant's late assertion of other registered drivers and multiple keys undermines the safety of the conviction
- 3 Whether bail pending appeal should be granted given the absence of a prima facie meritorious appeal and the sentence to be served
Ratio Decidendi
Bail pending appeal was refused because the applicant failed to demonstrate a reasonably arguable appeal or disclose material grounds at trial (his assertion about other drivers and keys was newly raised), the sentence was substantial and unlikely to be served on appeal, and personal/family circumstances did not amount to sufficient grounds for interim release.
Court Disposition
bail pending appeal refused
Orders
- Application for bail pending appeal refused
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
CACC 227/2019 [2019] HKCA 1153 香港特別行政區 高等法院上訴法庭 刑事司法管轄權 定罪及逾期刑罰上訴許可申請 刑事上訴案件 2019 年第 227 號 (原區域法院刑事案件 2018 年第 1063 號) 答辯人 香港特別行政區 與 申請人 曾國財 審理法官 : 高等法院上訴法庭法官張澤祐 聆訊日期 :2019 年 10 月4 日 判決日期 :2019 年 10 月4 日 判決理由書日期 :2019 年 10 月 16 日 判決理由書 申請人被控一項「輸入未列艙單貨物」罪,違反《進出口條例》(香港法例第60章)第18(1)(a) 條。 控方案情指申請人駕駛私家車從沙頭角管制站入境時向海關申報無任何物品。海關關員檢查車輛,鬆開車頭冚內控制箱的螺絲,開蓋後發現內有用三個布袋包着的共27塊金塊,共重約27公斤,總值約港幣819萬餘元。申請人聲稱只是駕駛「公司車」從內地回港,之前未有檢查車輛,且完全不知悉車內有金磚等等。 區域法院法官姚勳智裁定申請人罪名成立,並判申請人三年三個月監禁。申請人就定罪及刑期提出上訴許可申請及在上訴候審期間申請保釋。本席在聆訊後拒絕其保釋申請,理由如下。 申請人就定罪的上訴理由是: 「因海關人員在庭上的口供已証明被告不需負上合理努力的責任。餘下的不知情,被告已在口供上說明不知情。而且AA655過境車輛是有一位主司機和二位副司機共三位司機登記。而車匙也有三套,中港兩地公司各有一套,老板自己一套。試問區域法官大人只憑被告是開了五個月的過境司機,便說車輛只有被告負責,沒被告給車匙第三者,第三者是沒法把黃金藏在車頭發動機內,這根本是沒有實質證據証明的。難道中港兩公司的其他司機或副司機、老板他們都有車匙,他們就不能打開車頭把黃金藏在發動機嗎?基於其他司機都有車匙,能打開車輛車頭,在有疑點的情況下,疑點是否應該歸於被告,被告是不知情。」 他申請保釋的理由是: 「 因本人太太身體不好又要上班,再加上太太的父親剛做了切除大手術身體多病,太太亦需幫忙照顧父親,更無法專注照顧二位年幼子女。本人父母亦年老多病,幫不上忙。本人願付十萬現金擔保和五萬人事擔保,希望能暫時擔保外出幫忙照顧家庭、父母和二位年幼子女。」 本席認為申請人是沒具有充分的上訴理據,以致法庭基於公義理由在這階段讓他保釋候審。申請人在原審時沒有作供,他現時提出「有三位登記司機及三套車匙」說法從沒在原審時披露。他被判的刑期亦不是一個較短的刑期及會在正式上訴時服滿或大部分服滿。他稱需要照顧家人一事亦不是可以獲得保釋的原因。基於上述理由,本席拒絕申請。 (張澤祐) 高等法院上訴法庭法官 答辯人:由律政司高級檢控官陳立恩代表。 申請人:無律師代表,親自出庭應訊。