WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1986
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CROWN COUNSEL REMINDED OF TIME FACTOR
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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS HAS CIRCULATED REMINDERS TO ALL CROWN COUNSEL DRAWING THE IR ATTENTION TO THE SIX-MONTH STATUTORY PERIOD FOR THE PROSECUTION OF A SUMMARY OFFENCE, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JAMES FINDLAY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT ON A RECENT CASE IN WHICH A CHARGE AGAINST A BUSINESSMAN FOR BETTING WITH A BOOKMAKER WAS DISMISSED DUE TO THE EXPIRY OF THE SIX-MONTH STATUTORY PERIOD.
MR FINDLAY SAID THE DISMISSAL OF THE CHARGE IN QUESTION RESULTED FROM A SIMPLE OVERSIGHT WHICH, ALTHOUGH REGRETTABLE, WAS ALSO UNDERSTANDABLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE SAID THE CHARGE AROSE FROM A VERY EXTENSIVE OPERATION, CALLED +OPERATION BOXBUSH+, MOUNTED BY THE POLICE AGAINST ILLEGAL BOOKMAK ING.
A TOTAL OF 29 PEOPLE WERE CHARGED IN WHAT WAS AN IMPORTANT AND SUCCESSFUL OPERATION BY THE POLICE AND THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.
+ IN CONSIDER ING THE APPROPRIATE CHARGES TO BE LAID, ON THE BASIS OF AN ENORMOUS VOLUME OF DOCUMENTATION SEIZED IN TWO SER IES OF RAIDS ON 65 PREMISES, THE STATUTORY PERIOD FOR THE PROSECUTION OF SUMMARY OFFENCES WAS OVERLOOKED, HE EXPLAINED.
MR FINDLAY SAID NO ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THE CROWN COUNSEL WHO INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO ADVISE THE POLICE TO LAY THE CHARGE WITHIN THE STATUTORY PERIOD NOR DID HE BELIEVED THAT DISCIPLINARY ACTION WAS WARRANTED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
+ INDEED, THE PARTICULAR CROWN COUNSEL WAS PRAISED BY THE STAFF OFFICER OF THE ORGANISED AND SERIOUS CRIMES BUREAU FOR THE QUALITY OF HIS OVERALL LEGAL ADVICE ON AN IMMENSELY COMPLICATED OPERATION, HE NOTED.
HE ADDED THAT THAT ASSESSMENT HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.
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