Hong Kong Judgment

Court of First Instance

HKSAR v. SHOHIDUL ISLAM

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The court held that the magistrate correctly followed the standard guideline sentence of 15 months for unlawful remaining, appropriately reduced it to 13 months for time spent in immigration custody, and there was no sufficient justification to depart from the guideline; therefore the appeal against sentence must be dismissed.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed.

Orders

  • Appeal against sentence dismissed
  • Sentence of 13 months imprisonment upheld

02

Material facts

Parties

HKSAR

Respondent Counsel: Ms Peggy Leung, Senior Public Prosecutor

SHOHIDUL-ISLAM

Appellant Counsel: In person

Amounts and remedies

  • Sentence Imposed: 13
  • Guideline Sentence (guilty Plea): 15

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Magistracy Appeal (criminal) / Appeal Against Sentence (on Appeal From STCC 2686 of 2010)

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Appellant pleaded for a reduction in sentence on the grounds that he has family and a small daughter in Hong Kong and wishes to see them.
Respondent
Prosecution submitted the sentencing policy is applied even-handedly; the guideline sentence for a guilty plea is 15 months, the magistrate followed that guideline and reduced it to 13 months to reflect time spent in immigration custody, and there is no justification to depart from the standard guideline.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Immigration Ordinance section 38(1)(b)

    Unlawfully remaining in Hong Kong is an offence under the Immigration Ordinance.

  2. 02

    Sentencing guideline applied by magistrate/High Court practice

    Guideline sentences for offences should be applied unless there is justification to depart.

  3. 03

    Magistrate's sentencing practice

    Credit may be given for time spent in custody pending immigration proceedings.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The court held that the magistrate correctly followed the standard guideline sentence of 15 months for unlawful remaining, appropriately reduced it to 13 months for time spent in immigration custody, and there was no sufficient justification to depart from the guideline; therefore the appeal against sentence must be dismissed.

Obiter and limits

  • The appellant's family circumstances and plea were sympathetic but do not justify departing from the guideline.
  • The sentencing policy is applied even-handedly.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed.

  • Appeal against sentence dismissed
  • Sentence of 13 months imprisonment upheld

Source and reliance status

Court of First Instance · 8 February 2012

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Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Court of First Instance

Judgment· 8 February 2012

HKSAR v. SHOHIDUL ISLAM

bjbj HCMA 826/2011

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE MAGISTRACY APPEAL NO. 826 OF 2011 (ON APPEAL FROM STCC 2686 OF 2010) ____

BETWEEN HKSAR Respondent and SHOHIDUL-ISLAM Appellant ____ Before: The Honourable Mr Justice Line in Court Date of Hearing: 8 February 2012 Date of Judgment: 8 February 2012 ______

J U D G M E N T _______ This is an appeal against a sentence of 13 months imprisonment imposed for unlawfully remaining in Hong Kong, contrary to section 38(1)(b) of the Immigration Ordinance, to which the appellant pleaded guilty. He had been arrested in June of 2007 for unlawfully remaining and released upon a recognisance having admitted that he had sneaked into Hong Kong. He was then dealt with in November of 2008 for an offence relating to a forged trademark. That triggered the prosecution for this offence. The policy is applied even-handedly as is the guideline sentence on a plea of guilty of 15 months imprisonment which the magistrate followed. He reduced the 15 month sentence to 13 months by reason of the time the appellant had spent in custody of the Immigration Department since his arrival here. The appellant today asks me very nicely and politely to reduce his sentence saying that he has family and a small daughter here in Hong Kong and badly wishes to see them. Despite the attractive way he puts his case I regret to say that nothing can justify me from departing from the standard guideline here. Accordingly I am bound to dismiss his appeal against sentence (P Line) Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court Ms Peggy Leung, Senior Public Prosecutor of the Department of Justice, for the Respondent Appellant appeared in person

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Immigration Ordinance section 38(1)(b)

Legislation

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