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Issue #4/2018 25 January 2018

New This Week Case(s) of the Week KETUA POLIS NEGARA & ORS v. NURASMIRA MAULAT JAFFAR & ORS AND OTHER APPEALS [2018] 1 CLJ 585 Latest Cases Legal Network Series CLJ 2018 Volume 1 (Part 5) Articles LNS Article(s) Legislation Highlights Principal Acts Amending Acts PU(A) PU(B) Legislation Alert

KETUA POLIS NEGARA & ORS v.
NURASMIRA MAULAT JAFFAR & ORS AND OTHER APPEALS [2018] 1 CLJ 585
FEDERAL COURT, PUTRAJAYA
AHMAD MAAROP CJ (MALAYA); SURIYADI HALIM OMAR FCJ; ZAINUN ALI FCJ; AZAHAR MOHAMED FCJ; ZAHARAH IBRAHIM FCJ
[CIVIL APPEALS NO: 01(f)-36-05-2015(W), 01(i)-52-10-2015(W) & 01(f)-53-10-2015(W)]
06 NOVEMBER 2017

TORT: Damages – Exemplary damages – Case involving false imprisonment, police brutality and breach of statutory duties – Death of deceased while under police custody – Claims by dependants – Whether exemplary damages could be awarded in claims founded on s. 7 of Civil Law Act 1956 – Whether award of exemplary damages clearly contrary to Legislature’s intention – Whether an express provision disallowing award of exemplary damages required

TORT: Damages – Exemplary damages – Case involving false imprisonment, police brutality and breach of statutory duties – Death of deceased while under police custody – Claims by dependants – Whether s. 8(2) of Civil Law Act 1956 which bars award of exemplary damages in estate claims applicable where death of deceased a result of breach of his constitutional right – Whether acts that make up tort of misfeasance in public office must be acts that occurred before death of deceased

TORT: Damages – General damages – Pain and suffering – Case involving false imprisonment, police brutality and breach of statutory duties – Death of deceased in police custody – Claims by dependant – Whether general damages for pain and suffering ought to be awarded in a dependency claim – Whether claim beyond purview of s. 7 of Civil Law Act 1956

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Legal Network Series

[2016] 1 LNS 1208	KOW YEIK CHON @ QUAH YEIK CHON lwn. NGOO HOOW PIE @ NGO HONG NGAN & SATU LAGI	UNDANG-UNDANG KELUARGA: Aset perkahwinan - Pembahagian - Harta sepencarian - Tuntutan oleh pempetisyen isteri - Harta yang diperolehi sebelum pihak-pihak berpisah - Punca pendapatan keluarga datangnya dari perniagaan yang dijalankan bersama-sama oleh pempetisyen isteri dan responden suami dengan dibantu oleh anak-anak - Sama ada pempetisyen isteri berhak kepada harta sepencarian - Sama ada kadar yang adil bagi pembahagian harta sepencarian adalah sama rata - Akta Membaharui Undang-Undang (Perkahwinan Dan Perceraian) 1976, s. 76 UNDANG-UNDANG KELUARGA: Aset perkahwinan - Pembahagian - Tuntutan oleh pempetisyen isteri - Harta yang diperolehi selepas pihak-pihak berpisah - Hartanah diperoleh selepas responden suami keluar dari rumah perkahwinan - Pempetisyen isteri tidak menyumbang kepada perolehan atau penjagaan hartanah - Hartanah diperolehi melalui sumber perniagaan keluarga yang mana pempetisyen isteri juga turut memberikan sumbangan - Peratusan sumbangan pempetisyen isteri tidak dapat dikenalpasti - Sama ada responden suami menjadi pemilik sepenuhnya - Sama ada aset wajar dibahagikan UNDANG-UNDANG KELUARGA: Penceraian - Zina - Ganti rugi akibat perbuatan zina - Responden suami mengakui telah melakukan zina - Tuntutan pempetisyen isteri terhadap responden suami serta orang yang bersekedudukan dengannya - Pempetisyen isteri telah ditinggalkan tanpa kasih sayang seorang suami di dalam satu tempoh masa yang sangat lama - Responden suami bersedudukan dengan responden kedua selepas meninggalkan pempetisyen isteri - Sama ada pempetisyen isteri wajar diberikan ganti rugi bagi perlakuan zina responden suami dengan responden kedua - Akta Membaharui Undang-Undang (Perkahwinan Dan Perceraian) 1976, s. 58(3)(b)
[2016] 1 LNS 1209	GOBI KARUPIAH lwn. PENGERUSI, LEMBAGA PENCEGAHAN JENAYAH & YANG LAIN	PENAHANAN PENCEGAHAN: Perintah penahanan - Writ habeas corpus - Perintah tahanan di bawah s. 19A(1) Akta Pencegahan Jenayah 1959 ('APJ') - Lembaga Pencegah Jenayah ('LPJ') tidak mengesahkan dapatan siasatan yang dibuat oleh pegawai siasatan - Dapatan siasatan gagal diserahkan kepada pemohon sebelum memulakan proses pendaftaran - Sama ada terdapat ketidakpatuhan prosedur semasa pendaftaran nama pemohon dibawah s. 12(1) APJ - Sama ada penerangan hak membuat representasi kepada pemohon adalah satu keperluan undang-undang - Sama ada kewujudan elemen-elemen kepentingan ketenteraman awam, keselamatan awam dan pencegahan jenayah terpakai kepada perintah tahanan yang pertama
[2016] 1 LNS 1370	PP v. SOHA BETA & ANOR	CRIMINAL LAW: Murder - Section 302 of Penal Code - Prima facie case - Common intention - Parents charged for causing death of biological child by burying him alive - Reliance on circumstantial evidence - Witnesses heard child crying when child was buried - Absence of traces of soil in child's nostrils and mouth - Whether child was alive when he was buried - Whether circumstantial evidence must irresistibly point to both accused persons - Whether prima facie case had been established
[2016] 1 LNS 1375	MOEY YOKE LAI (selaku Wakil kepada Boy Sai Noi @ Moey Swee Kim menurut Surat Kuasa Wakil bertarikh 21.02.2013) v. IVAN HO TIONG YIN & ORS	SUCCESSION: Executors - Appointment of - Joint administration - Number of representation - Deceased appointed 5 executors - Validity of having 5 executors - Whether there was contravention of s. 4(1) of Probate and Administration Act 1959 and s. 39(1)(a) & (b) of Trustee Act 1949 - Whether court could reduce number of executors and trustees SUCCESSION: Executors - Removal - Breach of duty - Sufficient cause - Whether executors had acted in best interest of estate - Whether there was failure to comply with will of deceased - Whether executor had deprived beneficiaries of entitlement under will - Whether executor's failure to furnish beneficiary with a copy of will was a good ground for removal of executor - Whether there were serious complaints warranting removal of executor - Whether sufficient cause proven for removal of executor
[2017] 1 LNS 344	MOHAMAD SALMAN MALZUKI v. DATO' MOHAN SINGH TARA SINGH PENOLONG PESURUHJAYA KANAN POLIS ("SENIOR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE") PENGERUSI LEMBAGA TATATERTIB YANG DIWAKIL KUASAKAN OLEH SURUHANJAYA POLIS & ORS	ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Judicial review - Certiorari - Application to challenge a disciplinary order - Order of dismissal - Wrong regulations quoted in show cause letter - Reg 36 was quoted instead of reg 37 of Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 - Whether erroneous reference to wrong regulation invalidated decision to dismiss applicant - Whether wrong reference was merely a clerical error - Whether applicant was fully aware that disciplinary proceedings initiated against him was with a view to dismiss or reduce his rank under reg 37 - Whether dismissal order could be challenged on mere ground of a clerical error in show cause letter ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Judicial review - Certiorari - Application to challenge a disciplinary order - Order of dismissal - Breach of natural justice - Applicant alleged he was not given right to be heard as a result of a wrongly quoted regulation in show cause letter - Whether applicant was allowed an opportunity to make a written representation and to give justifications for alleged charges - Whether dismissal was made by giving applicant a reasonable opportunity to be heard - Whether there was contravention of Article 135(2) of Federal Constitution ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Judicial review - Certiorari - Application to challenge a disciplinary order - Order of dismissal - Allegation of illegality, procedural impropriety and irrationality - Disciplinary offences complained of concerning applicant's absence from work on different dates - Punishment meted out including warning letter, fine and dismissal - Whether dismissal of applicant for charges against him was justified and in accordance with law - Whether there was procedural impropriety or irregularity by disciplinary authority

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CLJ 2018 Volume 1 (Part 5)

FEDERAL COURT

Gee Boon Kee & Ors v. Tan Pok Shyong
Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin PCA, Suriyadi Halim Omar, Hasan Lah, Zainun Ali, Aziah Ali FCJJ
(Civil Procedure; Limitation; Land Law; Words & Phrases - Sale and purchase of land - Decree of specific performance - Incidental order) [2018] 1 CLJ 565 [FC]

Ketua Polis Negara & Ors v. Nurasmira Maulat Jaffar & Ors And Other Appeals
Ahmad Maarop CJ (Malaya), Suriyadi Halim Omar, Zainun Ali, Azahar Mohamed, Zaharah Ibrahim FCJJ
(Tort - Damages - Death while under police custody - Claims by dependants) [2018] 1 CLJ 585 [FC]

COURT OF APPEAL

Hup Soon Omnibus Co Sdn Bhd & Anor v. Lim Chee
Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Asmabi Mohamad JJCA
(Civil Procedure - Preliminary objection - Failure to comply with court order for security for costs) [2018] 1 CLJ 641 [CA]

Sia Swee Siong v. PP
Mohtarudin Baki, Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, Ab Karim Ab Jalil JJCA
(Criminal Procedure - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Presumption of trafficking in dangerous drugs) [2018] 1 CLJ 647 [CA]

HIGH COURT

Amurthalingam Tamajeeren v. PP
Collin Lawrence Sequerah J
(Criminal Law; Evidence - Anti-Trafficking In Persons And Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 - Section 26A - Deposition of witnesses - Right to cross-examine) [2018] 1 CLJ 662 [HC]

Chan Tai Ern Bermillo & Anor v. Ketua Pengarah Pendaftaran Negara & Ors
S Nantha Balan J
(Constitutional Law - Citizenship - Application for - Illegitimate child) [2018] 1 CLJ 671 [HC]

SUBJECT INDEX

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Costs - Security for costs - Preliminary objection - Failure to comply with court order for security for costs - Whether non-compliance was a blatant disregard - Whether appeal ought to be struck out for failure to comply with court order for security for costs
Hup Soon Omnibus Co Sdn Bhd & Anor v. Lim Chee
(Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Asmabi Mohamad JJCA) [2018] 1 CLJ 641 [CA]

Judgments and orders - Contract - Sale and purchase of land - Decree of specific performance - Incidental order allowing appellants to apply for additional orders - Effect on contract - Whether contract remained in force - Whether did not merge into decree - Application for transfer of land pursuant to incidental order - Whether effectively an application to have carriage of decree of specific performance to completion - Whether not vitiated by limitation - Limitation Act 1953, s. 6(3) - Applicability
Gee Boon Kee & Ors v. Tan Pok Shyong
(Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin PCA, Suriyadi Halim Omar, Hasan Lah, Zainun Ali, Aziah Ali FCJJ) [2018] 1 CLJ 565 [FC]

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Citizenship - Application - Illegitimate child - Biological mother of child a non-citizen of Federation of Malaysia - Whether 'father' under s. 17 of Part III of Federal Constitution ('FC') refers to mother - Whether mother's non-citizenship an impediment to application - Whether subsequent marriage of parents altered illegitimacy of child for purposes of art. 14(1)(b) of FC - Whether child lacked requisite qualification to acquire citizenship 'by operation of law'
Chan Tai Ern Bermillo & Anor v. Ketua Pengarah Pendaftaran Negara & Ors
(S Nantha Balan J) [2018] 1 CLJ 671 [HC]

CRIMINAL LAW

Anti-Trafficking In Persons And Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 - Section 26A - Deposition of witnesses - Right to cross-examine - Whether witnesses were smuggled or trafficked persons - Applicability of s. 52(4) and s. 61A Anti-Trafficking In Persons And Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 - Whether applicant ought to be given right to cross-examine witnesses who gave deposition
Amurthalingam Tamajeeren v. PP
(Collin Lawrence Sequerah J) [2018] 1 CLJ 662 [HC]

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Appeal - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Trafficking in dangerous drugs - Presumption of trafficking - Drugs found concealed in rented car - Whether accused person had knowledge of presence of drugs - Whether knowledge of presence of drugs could be inferred based on facts of case - Whether possession had been proved - Whether mere custody and control sufficient to prove possession - Whether case of possession or trafficking - Whether there was overt act - Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, ss. 12(2), 37, 39A(2) & 39B(1)(a)
Sia Swee Siong v. PP
(Mohtarudin Baki, Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, Ab Karim Ab Jalil JJCA) [2018] 1 CLJ 647 [CA]

EVIDENCE

Witnesses - Deposition - Right to cross-examine - Whether witnesses were smuggled or trafficked persons - Applicability of s. 52(4) and s. 61A Anti-Trafficking In Persons And Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 - Whether applicant ought to be given right to cross-examine witnesses who gave deposition
Amurthalingam Tamajeeren v. PP
(Collin Lawrence Sequerah J) [2018] 1 CLJ 662 [HC]

LAND LAW

Transfer - Sale and purchase of land - Beneficial ownership - Failure by purchaser to register as owner of land - Specific performance - Decree of specific performance obtained - Decree followed by incidental order allowing purchaser to apply for additional orders - Application for transfer pursuant to incidental order - Whether only an application to have carriage of decree of specific performance to completion - Whether not vitiated by limitation - Whether appropriate for court to exercise inherent power to order transfer
Gee Boon Kee & Ors v. Tan Pok Shyong
(Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin PCA, Suriyadi Halim Omar, Hasan Lah, Zainun Ali, Aziah Ali FCJJ) [2018] 1 CLJ 565 [FC]

LIMITATION

Contract - Sale and purchase of land - Decree of specific performance - Incidental order - Application to have carriage of decree pursuant to incidental order - Whether a 'fresh action' - Whether barred by limitation - Limitation Act 1953, ss. 2, 6(3)
Gee Boon Kee & Ors v. Tan Pok Shyong
(Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin PCA, Suriyadi Halim Omar, Hasan Lah, Zainun Ali, Aziah Ali FCJJ) [2018] 1 CLJ 565 [FC]

TORT

Damages - Exemplary damages - Case involving false imprisonment, police brutality and breach of statutory duties - Death of deceased while under police custody - Claims by dependants - Whether exemplary damages could be awarded in claims founded on s. 7 of Civil Law Act 1956 - Whether award of exemplary damages clearly contrary to Legislature's intention - Whether an express provision disallowing award of exemplary damages required
Ketua Polis Negara & Ors v. Nurasmira Maulat Jaffar & Ors And Other Appeals
(Ahmad Maarop CJ (Malaya), Suriyadi Halim Omar, Zainun Ali, Azahar Mohamed, Zaharah Ibrahim FCJJ) [2018] 1 CLJ 585 [FC]

Damages - Exemplary damages - Case involving false imprisonment, police brutality and breach of statutory duties - Death of deceased while under police custody - Claims by dependants - Whether s. 8(2) of Civil Law Act 1956 which bars award of exemplary damages in estate claims applicable where death of deceased a result of breach of his constitutional right - Whether acts that make up tort of misfeasance in public office must be acts that occurred before death of deceased
Ketua Polis Negara & Ors v. Nurasmira Maulat Jaffar & Ors And Other Appeals
(Ahmad Maarop CJ (Malaya), Suriyadi Halim Omar, Zainun Ali, Azahar Mohamed, Zaharah Ibrahim FCJJ) [2018] 1 CLJ 585 [FC]

Damages - General damages - Pain and suffering - Case involving false imprisonment, police brutality and breach of statutory duties - Death of deceased in police custody - Claims by dependant - Whether general damages for pain and suffering ought to be awarded in a dependency claim - Whether claim beyond purview of s. 7 of Civil Law Act 1956
Ketua Polis Negara & Ors v. Nurasmira Maulat Jaffar & Ors And Other Appeals
(Ahmad Maarop CJ (Malaya), Suriyadi Halim Omar, Zainun Ali, Azahar Mohamed, Zaharah Ibrahim FCJJ) [2018] 1 CLJ 585 [FC]

WORDS & PHRASES

'action' - Section 2(1) Limitation Act 1953 - Whether referring to a fresh action
Gee Boon Kee & Ors v. Tan Pok Shyong
(Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin PCA, Suriyadi Halim Omar, Hasan Lah, Zainun Ali, Aziah Ali FCJJ) [2018] 1 CLJ 565 [FC]

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LNS Article(s)

1. ADMISIBILITY OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE CONVENTIONAL AND SHARIAH COURTS IN NIGERIA ^{[Read excerpt]}
   N.A.O. IJAIYA, Ph.D* [2018] 1 LNS(A) vii

[2018] 1 LNS(A) vii



NIGERIA

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ADMISIBILITY OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE:
A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE CONVENTIONAL AND SHARIAH COURTS IN NIGERIA

N.A.O. IJAIYA Ph.D*

ABSTRACT

It is not in all cases of criminal matters that the prosecution will be able to lay his hands on direct evidence to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt. This is because there may be supervening circumstances that will make it impossible to directly prove an offence or certain occurrence, hence the need to prove through circumstantial evidence in other words known as indirect evidence. The legal consequence of this kind of evidence is that the judge or qadi (Islamic court judge) will infer the truth of the matter by looking at the circumstances surrounding the fact in issue. The paper therefore seeks to examine the nature of circumstantial evidence under the Nigerian and Islamic legal systems with a view to bringing out, if any, the similarities and dissimilarities in both systems. The questions therefore are: Is the Islamic principle of circumstantial evidence the same under the Nigerian law? Under what circumstances can circumstantial evidence be admitted in both legal systems? To answer these posers, the paper adopts a qualitative method of legal research, meaning that the research is library based. It therefore critically examines the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 as amended, Law of Evidence No. 8 Laws of Federation of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2011, Nigeria Judicial precedent amongst others on one hand. On the other hand, both primary (Qur'an, and Hadith) and secondary sources (Ijma' and Qiyass) of Islamic law are equally analyzed to know the scope and limitation in the applicability of the principle under consideration. The paper finds no controversy and that both legal systems recognizes circumstantial evidence as one of the various ways of proving fact(s) in issue. It also finds that the admissibility of circumstantial evidence to a fact in issue is restricted to a fact not related to serious offences. It therefore concludes that circumstantial evidence in both legal systems are the same in principle and application.

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* Public Law Department, Faculty of Law, University Of Ilorin, Email: ijaiyanao@yahoo.com.

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2. BENEFITS OF AN INDEPENDENT LAW REFORM COMMISSION* ^{[Read excerpt]}
   DATO' SERI MOHD HISHAMUDIN YUNUS [2018] 1 LNS(A) viii

[2018] 1 LNS(A) viii



MALAYSIA

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BENEFITS OF AN INDEPENDENT LAW REFORM COMMISSION*

DATO' SERI MOHD HISHAMUDIN YUNUS

Law reform is very important to any legal system and to any country. For the law of a country cannot remain static but must keep abreast with the political, legal, economic and social developments of society. Invariably, there will be areas where the law is unclear, complicated or inaccessible. One of the most effective ways to bring about legal change or to improve the law is by establishing an independent law reform body. Thus, over the last 50 years or so, independent law reform bodies have been established in many countries, mostly in the Commonwealth.

Law reform bodies

Various terms, among them Law Reform Agency, Law Reform Committee, Law Commission and Law Reform Institute, have been used when referring to law reform bodies. For present purposes, we shall refer to such a body as a "Law Reform Commission". There are about 60 Law Reform Commissions throughout the world.

. . .

* This article is reproduced, with permission, from the Legal Herald (November 2017), a publication by Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, Advocates & Solicitors, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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