Scottish Ministers v Doig & Ors [2006] ScotCS CSOH_176 (23 November 2006)

Scottish Ministers v Doig & Ors [2006] ScotCS CSOH_176 (23 November 2006)

Civil recovery proceedings under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are civil in nature and do not engage Article 6(2) or Article 7 of the ECHR. The proceedings are not criminal, do not impose a penalty, and are not so closely linked to prior criminal proceedings as to breach the presumption of innocence. The pleadings are sufficiently relevant to proceed to inquiry.

Citation
[2006] ScotCS CSOH_176
Parties
Petitioner: The Scottish Ministers; First Respondent: Linda Doig; Second Respondent: Steven Doig; Third Respondent: David Dodds Cameron
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Judgment Date
23 November 2006
Procedural Posture
Petition for Recovery Order (civil Recovery) / Opinion on Preliminary Legal Objections and Relevancy
Outcome
Petition allowed to proceed to inquiry; preliminary objections overruled.
Legal Topics
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Part 5, Civil Vs Criminal Proceedings, Article 6(2) ECHR (presumption of Innocence), Article 7 ECHR (no Retrospective Penalty), Abuse of Process, Limitation and Prescription
Civil Recovery Proceeds of Crime Human Rights Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Part 5 Civil Vs Criminal Proceedings Article 6(2) ECHR (presumption of Innocence) Article 7 ECHR (no Retrospective Penalty) Abuse of Process +1 more

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Parties

The Scottish Ministers

Petitioner

Linda Doig

First Respondent

Steven Doig

Second Respondent

David Dodds Cameron

Third Respondent

Procedural Posture

Petition for Recovery Order (civil Recovery) / Opinion on Preliminary Legal Objections and Relevancy

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether civil recovery proceedings under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are criminal in nature for ECHR purposes
  2. 2 Whether such proceedings breach Article 6(2) ECHR following an acquittal
  3. 3 Whether the proceedings impose a retrospective penalty contrary to Article 7 ECHR

Ratio Decidendi

Civil recovery proceedings under Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are civil in nature and do not engage Article 6(2) or Article 7 of the ECHR. The proceedings are not criminal, do not impose a penalty, and are not so closely linked to prior criminal proceedings as to breach the presumption of innocence. The pleadings are sufficiently relevant to proceed to inquiry.

Court Disposition

Petition allowed to proceed to inquiry; preliminary objections overruled.

Orders

  • Preliminary pleas for dismissal on ECHR and relevancy grounds repelled.
  • Case to proceed to proof (evidentiary hearing) on the merits of the recovery order.