13
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1979
HE SAID IT WAS NOT PROPOSED THAT THE OUTCOME OF THE PROCEEDINGS ON SUCH A REFERENCE SHOULD AFFECT THE ACQUITTAL BUT THAT +FROM TIME TO TIME AN INCORRECT RULING ON A POINT OF LAW IN A CASE WHERE THE DEFENDANT IS ACQUITTED MAY ACQUIRE AN AUTHORITY WHICH IT DOES NOT DESERVE, AND MAY BE FOLLOWED IN FURTHER CASES, SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY AT PRESENT IN WHICH IT CAN BE TESTED.+
THE FINAL PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE IS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PROVISION FOR THE MAKING OF CRIMINAL BANKRUPTCY ORDERS.
THE PROPOSAL IS BASED ON A SIMILAR LAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT CRIMINALS WHO COMMIT LARGE-SCALE CRIMES, ESPECIALLY FRAUD, SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE FRUITS OF THE IR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF LOSS OR DAMAGE IS PROPOSED - NAMELY $150,000 BEFORE A COURT MAY MAKE A CRIMINAL BANKRUPTCY ORDER.
LATER, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INTRODUCED THE BANKRUPTCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 AND IT WAS READ THE SECOND TIME.
DEBATE ON THE TWO BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
INCREASE IN MAXIMUM PENALTIES PROPOSED FOR
CONTRAVENTIONS OF BUILDINGS ORDINANCE
*****
THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979, AIMED AT INCREASING THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OR REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE ORDINANCE, WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, SAID THE MAXIMUM PENALTY
IN RESPECT OF SIX OF THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENCES WERE INCREASED TO A FINE OF $250,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE YEARS.
THESE OFFENCES, HE ADDED, COVERED SITUATIONS WHERE SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING WORKS WERE DELIBERATELY CARRIED OUT IN DEFIANCE OF THE LAW AND WHICH COULD RESULT IN DANGER TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.
TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT WITH
IMPOSED WHERE BUILDING
+A SUBSTANTIAL FINE OF $100,000 AND A CONTINUING DAILY FINE OF $5,000 MAY BE WORKS ARE COMMENCED WITHOUT NOTICE TO AND CONTENT FROM THE BUILDING AUTHORITY OR WHERE A BUILDING IS OCCUPIED Without MR. MCDONALD SAID.
PERMIT,
+