HKSAR v. MAC QUANG BINK

HCMA234/2007

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

(Appellate Jurisdiction)

MAGISTRACY APPEAL NO. 234 OF 2007

(ON APPEAL FROM KCCC7686 OF 2006)

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REASONS  FOR  JUDGMENT

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1. The appellant was convicted on his own plea to one charge of “theft”, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, Cap. 210.  He was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment.  He now appeals against that sentence.

2. As disclosed by the Brief Facts, the victim in this case discovered that she had lost her mobile phone at 8:30 p.m. while in a restaurant in Chung Wui Street, Mongkok.  Some time earlier, the police had stopped the appellant and found the phone on him.  Under caution, he claimed to have found the phone in Tai Kok Tsui at 8 p.m. and was intending to sell it in Apliu Street where he was arrested.

3. The appellant is aged 42.  He has 19 previous convictions 16 of which were similar.  The last one dated 8 February 2006, also for theft, brought him another term of 14 months’ imprisonment.

4. Though advanced as one in mitigation, the magistrate refused to accept this case as a theft by finding.  Given the proximity of time and location of where the victim found her phone missing, the magistrate indicated that she could an inference to the contrary.

5. It is against this conclusion that the present appeal is directed.

6. Having considered the matter, I am persuaded that there are other possible interpretations and that the appellant is entitled to the benefit of the doubt that he did come across the phone by finding.

7. The sentence of 14 months is set aside.  It is substituted by one of 6 months.