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LAI KEE PENG v. TAY HUP LIAN [2016] 4 CLJ 1 LEGAL PROFESSION: Solicitors - Stakeholders - Money deposited with solicitor as stakeholder by purchaser for benefit of vendor - Developer and other purchasers entered into consent order - Stakeholder not party to consent order - Request for release of retention sum by developer not complied with by stakeholder - Whether consent order binding on stakeholder - Whether consent order prevented stakeholder from releasing retention sum - Whether stakeholder entitled to release retention sum - Whether solicitor in breach of stakeholding TRUSTS: Trustee - Liability - Stakeholder - Money deposited with solicitor as stakeholder by purchaser for benefit of vendor - Whether solicitor a trustee - Whether sum held by solicitor trust money - Whether there was breach of stakeholding - Whether there was breach of trust - Solicitor acting as stakeholder for two parties served with court order declaring forfeiture of stake - Whether solicitor acted lawfully by paying stake to party declared to be entitled - Whether solicitor liable to make good stake to affected party if order reversed upon appeal - Trustee Act 1949, s. 63
PP v. LIM KIANG CHAI [2016] 4 CLJ 173 EVIDENCE: Corroboration - Court's approach to corroboration - Whether mere circumstantial evidence of connection with crime sufficient - Whether corroboration must be in material particulars - Surrounding circumstances leading to commission of offence - Whether events preceding offence to be considered EVIDENCE: Statement - Cautioned statement - Voluntariness - Allegation that cautioned statement given under oppressive conditions - Whether proven - Trial within a trial to determine voluntariness of cautioned statement - Whether cautioned statement given voluntarily without any inducement, threat or promise EVIDENCE: Accomplice - Credibility - Whether evidence of accomplice corroborated by independent evidence EVIDENCE: Presumption - Possession of stolen property - Accused faced with offence of murder - Discovery of stolen goods not long after break in and murder at house of accused - Whether connected accused with offence charged - Whether explanation given as to how accused came into possession of goods - Whether attracted presumption that accused was associated with commission of crime - Evidence Act 1950, s. 114(a) CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Appeal - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Appeal by prosecution - Offence of murder - Whether cautioned statement given voluntarily - Whether identity of offender established - Whether evidence of accomplice corroborated by independent evidence - Whether possession of stolen property connected offender to offence - Whether order of trial court should be reinstated PP lwn. CHONG CHEE KHEONG & SATU LAGI [2016] 1 SMC 81 KETERANGAN: Laporan pakar - Laporan kimia - Rampasan barang-barang larangan - Kegagalan menyerahkan laporan kimia kepada tertuduh - Sama ada peruntukan s. 399 Kanun Tatacara Jenayah dipatuhi - Sama ada laporan kimia dokumen penting dan keterangan konklusif - Sama ada ahli kimia dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan - Sama ada intipati pertuduhan dibuktikan - Sama ada sijil-sijil penjenisan yang ditandatangani oleh Ketua Pengarah Kastam dibuat dengan merujuk kepada laporan kimia - Sama ada tertuduh dilepaskan dan dibebaskan - Akta Kastam 1967, s. 22A PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Keterangan pakar - Laporan kimia - Rampasan barang-barang larangan - Kegagalan menyerahkan laporan kimia kepada tertuduh - Sama ada peruntukan s. 399 Kanun Tatacara Jenayah dipatuhi - Sama ada laporan kimia dokumen penting dan keterangan konklusif - Sama ada ahli kimia dipanggil untuk memberi keterangan - Sama ada intipati pertuduhan dibuktikan - Sama ada sijil-sijil penjenisan yang ditandatangani oleh Ketua Pengarah Kastam dibuat dengan merujuk kepada laporan kimia - Sama ada tertuduh dilepaskan dan dibebaskan - Akta Kastam 1967, s. 22A To view a sample of the Sessions and Magistrates' Cases journal, click here. For product enquiries, contact priority@cljlaw.com. |
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Legal Network Series
CLJ 2016 Volume 4 (Part 1) FEDERAL COURT Lai Kee Peng v. Tay Hup Lian Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan v. Victoria Jayaseele Martin & Another Appeal COURT OF APPEAL Lany Masangkay Magnaye lwn. PP & Satu Lagi Rayuan Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Kedah v. CBH Rubber Sdn Bhd PP v. Mohd Faiz Salleh Seruan Gemilang Makmur Sdn Bhd v. Pegawai Kewangan Negeri Pahang Wan Rohimi Wan Daud & Anor v. Abdullah Che Hassan & Ors And Another Appeal HIGH COURT Dato' Wahid Don v. PP Haslina Alias v. Sirdi - 333 Otomobil Sdn Bhd Konsortium Kopkad Sdn Bhd v. Konsortium Koperasi Pengguna Malaysia Bhd SUBJECT INDEX CIVIL PROCEDURE Accounts - Taking of accounts - Application for - Judgment paid into solicitor's firm trust account - Whether fees charged on contingency basis - Whether solicitors served invoices - Whether applicants entitled to order that account be taken - Rules of Court 2012, O. 43 Judicial review - Proceedings - Application for leave - Extension of time to apply for leave - Whether application made out of prescribed period - Whether court has jurisdiction to entertain applications that have not complied with 40 day time limit - Whether reasons given for delay sufficient and amount to good reason - Whether trial judge's exercise of discretion not to grant extension of time flawed - Rules of the High Court 1980, O. 53 r. 3(6) CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Fundamental liberties - Equality before the law - Federal Constitution, art. 8 - Application for admission as Peguam Syarie rejected - Applicant a non-Muslim - Whether r. 10 Peguam Syarie Rules 1993 mandates that only Muslims could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Reasonable or permissible classification - Whether classification for purpose of discrimination permissible - Whether necessary to consider object and intent of laws and Rules drafted thereunder - Whether persons appearing before Syariah Court subjected to its jurisdiction - Whether Syariah Court had jurisdiction over non-Muslim practitioners - Whether r. 10 contravened art. 8 Fundamental liberties - Personal liberty - Right to livelihood - Federal Constitution, art. 5 - Application for admission as Peguam Syarie rejected - Applicant a non-Muslim - Whether r. 10 Peguam Syarie Rules 1993 mandates that only Muslims could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether applicant deprived of her livelihood - Whether r. 10 contravened art. 5 - Whether applicant could still practice in civil courts Fundamental liberties - Right to form associations - Federal Constitution, art. 10(1)(c) - Application for admission as Peguam Syarie rejected - Applicant a non-Muslim - Whether r. 10 Peguam Syarie Rules 1993 mandates that only Muslims could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether applicant denied from being a member of the profession - Whether art. 10(1)(c) had relevance with admission as Peguam Syarie - Whether r. 10 contravened art. 10(1)(c) CONTRACT Damages - Interest - Delay of Registrar to deliver decision on assessment of damages - Whether fair and just for interest to run from date of decision of liability by trial judge - Whether interest should run from date of grounds of Registrar's decision Damages - Measure of damages - Breach of condition precedent - Whether ordinary measure of damages applicable - Whether compensation should be awarded as though agreement had been performed - Whether contrary to intention of parties - Proper measure of damages - Whether expenses incurred up to expiry period specified for fulfilment of condition precedent - Whether Registrar erred in awarding damages based on expected profit Specific performance - Agreement - Proposal to take over operations of factory - Proposal approved by members of corporation - Proposer sent agreements but corporation later decided not to continue with proposal - Whether approval of proposal constituted binding contract - Whether there was binding contract between parties - Whether agreements could be enforced CRIMINAL LAW Corruption - Corruptly receiving gratification - Gratification as inducement to expedite approval of visas with reference ('VDRs') application - Whether ingredients of charge proved - Whether accused had authority to approve VDRs - Whether accused had corruptly agreed to accept gratification for himself - Whether prima facie case established - Whether defence probable - Whether defence raised doubts in prosecution's case - Anti-Corruption Act 1997, s. 11(a) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Section 39B(1)(a) - 299.45g of cannabis - Accused pleaded guilty to alternative charge under s. 6 of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Appeal against sentence - Whether accused treated with unjustified leniency - Crucial factor of weight comparison of drugs - Whether taken into account - Whether accused deserved discount on imprisonment sentence - Whether sentence manifestly adequate - Public interest - Whether deterrent sentence should be imposed CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Sentence - Appeal against - Dangerous drugs - 299.45g of cannabis - Accused pleaded guilty to alternative charge under s. 6 of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Appeal against sentence - Whether accused treated with unjustified leniency - Whether crucial factor of weight comparison of drugs taken into account - Whether accused deserved discount on imprisonment sentence - Whether sentence manifestly adequate - Public interest - Whether deterrent sentence should be imposed Sentence - Corruption - Accused found guilty of corruptly receiving gratification as inducement to expedite approval of visas with reference ('VDRs') application - Accused sentenced to six years' imprisonment and fine of RM300,000, in default one year imprisonment - Maximum penalty for offence under s. 11(a) of Anti-Corruption Act 1997 - Whether sentence fair and reasonable - Whether manifestly excessive HIRE PURCHASE Hire Purchase Agreement - Agreement for sale of car - Hirer purchased motorcar from vendor and obtained hire purchase loan from bank - Execution of hire purchase agreement with bank - Hirer refused to take delivery of motorcar and instructed bank not to release monies to vendor - Whether vendor could sue hirer based on sale and purchase agreement upon execution of hire purchase agreement ISLAMIC LAW Syariah Court - Legal practice - Application for admission as Peguam Syarie - Applicant a non-Muslim - Conditions for admission - Whether requirement under r. 10 Peguam Syarie Rules 1993 satisfied - Powers of Majlis Agama Islam - Whether could only admit Muslims as Peguam Syarie - Whether s. 59(1) Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 subject to powers of Majlis pursuant to s. 59(2) - Whether any person having sufficient knowledge of Islamic law could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether r. 10 ultra vires s. 59(1) - Whether r. 10 contravened arts. 5, 8 & 10(1)(c) of the Federal Constitution LEGAL PROFESSION Duty to client - Fiduciary duty - Application for taking of accounts - Judgment sum paid into solicitor's firm trust account - Whether solicitors accounting party to clients - Whether payments made in capacity as solicitors for clients - Whether payments received by solicitors in capacity as fiduciaries for clients Practice of law - Syariah Court - Application for admission as Peguam Syarie - Applicant a non-Muslim - Conditions for admission - Whether requirement under r. 10 Peguam Syarie Rules 1993 satisfied - Powers of Majlis Agama Islam - Whether could only admit Muslims as Peguam Syarie - Whether s. 59(1) Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 subject to powers of Majlis pursuant to s. 59(2) - Whether any person having sufficient knowledge of Islamic law could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether r. 10 ultra vires s. 59(1) - Whether r. 10 contravened arts. 5, 8 & 10(1)(c) of the Federal Constitution Solicitors - Stakeholders - Money deposited with solicitor as stakeholder by purchaser for benefit of vendor - Developer and other purchasers entered into consent order - Stakeholder not party to consent order - Request for release of retention sum by developer not complied with by stakeholder - Whether consent order binding on stakeholder - Whether consent order prevented stakeholder from releasing retention sum - Whether stakeholder entitled to release retention sum - Whether solicitor in breach of stakeholding STATUTORY INTERPRETATION Construction of statutes - Intention of Parliament - Admission as Peguam Syarie - Qualifications required for admission - Whether s. 59(1) Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993 subject to powers of Majlis pursuant to s. 59(2) - Whether provisions to be read harmoniously - Whether any person with sufficient knowledge of Islamic law could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether r. 10 Peguam Syarie Rules 1993 mandates that only Muslims could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether r. 10 enacted pursuant to s. 59(2) TRUSTS Trustee - Liability - Stakeholder - Money deposited with solicitor as stakeholder by purchaser for benefit of vendor - Whether solicitor a trustee - Whether sum held by solicitor trust money - Whether there was breach of stakeholding - Whether there was breach of trust - Solicitor acting as stakeholder for two parties served with court order declaring forfeiture of stake - Whether solicitor acted lawfully by paying stake to party declared to be entitled - Whether solicitor liable to make good stake to affected party if order reversed upon appeal - Trustee Act 1949, s. 63 WORDS & PHRASES 'any person' - 'subject to' - 'any person having sufficient knowledge of Islamic law' - Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993, s. 59(1) - Application for admission as Peguam Syarie rejected - Applicant a non-Muslim - Whether admission subject to s. 59(2) - Whether any person with sufficient knowledge of Islamic law could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether r. 10 Peguam Syarie Rules 1993 mandates that only Muslims could be admitted as Peguam Syarie - Whether r. 10 enacted pursuant to s. 59(2) 'qualification' - Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993, s. 59(2) - Import and purport - Whether limited to faith of a person as a Muslim INDEKS PERKARA KETERANGAN Anggapan bertentangan - Kegagalan pendakwaan memanggil saksi - Sama ada saksi penting - Alasan bagi kegagalan mengesan saksi - Sama ada memuaskan dan boleh diterima - Sama ada usaha bona fide dibuat untuk mengesan saksi - Sama ada anggapan bertentangan wajar diguna pakai terhadap pendakwaan - Akta Keterangan 1950, s. 114(g) PROSEDUR JENAYAH Pendakwaan - Jurang dalam keterangan - Kegagalan memanggil saksi penting - Alasan bagi kegagalan mengesan saksi - Sama ada memuaskan dan boleh diterima - Sama ada usaha bona fide dibuat untuk mengesan saksi - Sama ada ketiadaan saksi menyebabkan jurang dalam kes pendakwaan Rayuan - Dapatan fakta hakim bicara - Kesalahan pengedaran dadah berbahaya - Tertuduh bersama melarikan diri dari tahanan - Sama ada tertuduh bersama memainkan peranan utama - Sama ada penjelasan diberikan bagaimana tertuduh bersama lari dari tahanan - Sama ada usaha mengesan tertuduh bersama diambil - Sama ada ketiadaan tertuduh bersama menjejaskan kes pembelaan - Sama ada memprejudiskan perayu Rayuan - Niat bersama - Sama ada dapatan berkaitan niat bersama oleh hakim bicara disokong asas kukuh - Sama ada niat bersama dibuktikan CLJ 2016 Volume 4 (Part 2) FEDERAL COURT PP v. Lim Kiang Chai COURT OF APPEAL Kemajuan Kuari (M) Sdn Bhd v. PTB Suramix Sdn Bhd & Ors Mohd Kusaini Mahmud v. PP PP v. Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri & Another Appeal Simathari Somenaidu v. Panglima Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia & Ors Yeoh Tai Chuan & Anor v. Tan Chong Kean HIGH COURT APT Associates Sdn Bhd v. Adnan Ishak & Ors Choo Yeoh Jee & Ors v. Pesuruhjaya Sukan Lim Hua v. Chemfert Sdn Bhd & Ors SUBJECT INDEX ADMINISTRATIVE LAW Judicial review - Application for - Persatuan Menembak Melaka ('PMM') - Revocation of registration of sports body by Commissioner of Sports - Service of show cause notice vide Pos Laju - Whether mode of service effective - Whether proper service of show cause notice - Failure to collect shipment containing show cause notice - Shipment returned undelivered - Whether PMM denied opportunity to make representations against deregistration - Whether presumption of due service of notice pursuant to s. 12 of Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967 applied Judicial review - Application for - Persatuan Menembak Melaka ('PMM') - Revocation of registration of sports body by Commissioner of Sports - Statutory notice of revocation (Form 5) - Omission of endnote - Whether invalidated notification - Whether omission had substantial effect on PMM's rights to lodge an appeal - Whether omission curable by s. 62 of Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967 Judicial review - Application for - Royal Malaysian Navy - Termination from service under Queen's Regulations - Whether Queen's Regulations could be relied upon for termination - Whether Queen's Regulations repealed by s. 217(1) of Armed Forces Act 1972 (AFA) - Whether Queen's Regulations saved by s. 217(2) of AFA - Whether Queen's Regulations remained in force CIVIL PROCEDURE Bill of costs - Assessment - Appeal against - Allegation of discrepancies - Whether proved - Whether bill of costs proper - Whether bill of costs explicitly spelt out pages of documents - Whether there was failure to indicate person in charge and specific time cost of particularised works done - Whether there were duplicity in claims - Whether petitioner had substantial challenges against bill of costs - Whether assessment done on proper principles of law and due consideration Pleadings - Facts not pleaded - Claim on confidential information - Confidential information - Whether same as protection given to client and solicitors under s. 126 of Legal Profession Act 1976 - Whether pleadings divulged cause of action - Whether confidential information could form cause of action - Whether s. 126 could give rise to cause of action - Whether s. 126 applicable - Whether abuse of court process CONTRACT Performance - Agreement - Sale and purchase agreements signed in 2000 and 2001 - Agreement said to be completed and balance purchase price triggered once specific events completed - Purchaser gave notice to vendor to complete contract seven years later even though specific events still had not materialised - Whether there was rationale for fast-forwarding completion of agreement - Whether parties released and discharged from obligations to perform agreement Uncertainty - Terms - Sale and purchase agreement - Completion date of agreement event-based and uncertain - Agreement said to be completed and balance purchase price triggered once specific events completed - Whether it was known when or whether event would take place - Whether agreement void for uncertainty - Whether possible to perform contract - Whether curable - Whether new time frame could be fixed to complete agreement - Contracts Act 1950, s. 30 Void contract - Uncertainty - Sale and purchase agreement contained uncertain terms - Date of completion not specified - Completion date of agreement event-based and uncertain - Agreement said to be completed and balance purchase price triggered once specific events completed - Whether it was known when or whether event would take place - Whether curable - Whether possible to perform contract - Whether new time frame could be fixed to complete agreement that was previously event-based - Contracts Act 1950, s. 30 CRIMINAL LAW Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 - Section 39B(1)(a) - Trafficking in 808.2g of cannabis - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Whether there was evidence of overt act of trafficking or affirmative evidence of trafficking - Whether a case of passive possession - Whether act of keeping or concealing drugs sufficient to constitute offence of trafficking - Whether conviction and sentence safe Penal Code - Section 420 - Dishonest inducement for donation - Whether dishonest intention established - Whether defence mere denial - Whether defence had effect of nullifying witness testimony - Failure by victim to make police report - Whether only affected credibility of victim - Whether accused proven to have fraudulent intention Penal Code - Section 471 - Element of offence - Dishonestly 'used' offending document as genuine - Whether proven - Whether only a mere suspicion - Whether prima facie case established CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Appeal - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Appeal by prosecution - Offence of murder - Whether cautioned statement given voluntarily - Whether identity of offender established - Whether evidence of accomplice corroborated by independent evidence - Whether possession of stolen property connected offender to offence - Whether order of trial court reinstated EVIDENCE Accomplice - Credibility - Whether evidence of accomplice corroborated by independent evidence Corroboration - Court's approach to corroboration - Whether mere circumstantial evidence of connection with crime sufficient - Whether corroboration must be in material particulars - Surrounding circumstances leading to commission of offence - Whether events preceding offence to be considered Expert evidence - Chemist report - Whether trial judge erred in converting chemist report to written statement under s. 402B of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) - Whether chemist report could be equated with written statement as envisaged under s. 402B of CPC - Whether there was admissible evidence of weight of cannabis - Whether conviction and sentence ought to be set aside Presumption - Possession of stolen property - Accused faced with offence of murder - Discovery of stolen goods not long after break in and murder at house of accused - Whether connected accused with offence charged - Whether explanation given as to how accused came into possession of goods - Whether attracted presumption that accused was associated with commission of crime - Evidence Act 1950, s. 114(a) Statement - Cautioned statement - Voluntariness - Allegation that cautioned statement given under oppressive conditions - Whether proven - Trial within a trial to determine voluntariness of cautioned statement - Whether cautioned statement given voluntarily without any inducement, threat or promise LEGAL PROFESSION Duty to client - Disclosure - Client to take control of shares in developer company if it failed to complete development of land - Client executed trust deed with third party to take over management and control of company in event of incompletion - Condition that trust deed to be destroyed upon completion of development - Solicitors exhibited trust deed in suit where client was made third party - Client sent notice to solicitors to cease disclosure of trust deed - Solicitors proceeded to exhibit trust deed in suit - Whether there was breach of confidentiality - Whether solicitors could rely on or reveal trust deed - Legal Profession Act 1976, s. 126 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION Construction of statues - Literal approach - Section 217(2) of AFA - Meaning of words 'made under' - Whether should be given plain and ordinary meaning TORT Conversion - Claim in conversion - Plaintiff obtained approval to extract and remove armour rocks (rocks) from quarry land for Petronas projects - Whether approval given only for polyethylene/ethylene projects and not for all Petronas projects in general - State Government of Terengganu subsequently granted approval to first defendant to operate quarry works on state land adjacent to plaintiff's quarry land - Defendants converted to their own use rocks stockpiled by plaintiff - Whether plaintiff rightful owner of stockpiles - Whether plaintiff could claim for total market value of rocks and rock by-products, costs of constructing infrastructures and for loss of business from defendants UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS Unincorporated associations - Judicial review - Revocation of registration of sports body by Commissioner of Sports - Appeal against revocation to Minister - Application of judicial review pending outcome of Minister's decision - Whether judicial review application premature |
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