8 Jul 1993
The trial judge's acceptance of fingerprint and other circumstantial evidence, combined with the deliberate lies of D2 which undermined the defendants' exculpatory account, was a proper basis to find joint possession and guilt; the sentences imposed were not excessive given the quantity and seriousness of the forged banknotes and cards and relevant authorities.
20 Dec 1991
The application for leave to appeal was refused because the trial judge applied the totality principle and the overall sentence of two years six months for eight offences, including possession of a forged passport, was not manifestly excessive; therefore no appellate interference was warranted.
28 Jun 1991
Given the evidence of the embossing process and the expansive statutory definition in section 68 of the Crimes Ordinance, a credit card falls within the meaning of 'die' and the conviction under s.76(2) is lawful; the sentences imposed were not excessive in view of the confession, the number of cards and the objective risk of imminent misuse.
25 Jun 1987
Convictions for forgery against D.1 and D.4 were quashed because the judge's summing up failed adequately to identify and explain the absence of corroborative evidence on the sole contested issue of guilty knowledge, rendering those convictions unsafe; retrial on the forgery counts was ordered. Appeals against possession and sentence for D.1 and appeal and sentence leave for D.3 were dismissed.
6 Nov 1973
The magistrate did have power to impose a fine under ss.92 and 97 of the Magistrates Ordinance, but the sentence of six months' imprisonment suspended for two years was manifestly inadequate given the seriousness of possessing forged dies for travel documents and the respondent's role as a travel agent; on review the court substituted a term of nine months' imprisonment and ordered a warrant for the respondent's arrest for his absence.