LAU SIU v. THE QUEEN
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CACC000212/1977
| IN THE SUPREME COURT | Criminal Appeal |
| 1977 No. 212 |
| BETWEEN: | ||
| LAU SIU | Appellant | |
| and | ||
| THE QUEEN | Respondent |
Coram: Briggs, C.J.
Date of Judgment: 10th March, 1977.
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JUDGMENT
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1. The appellant pleaded guilty to one offence of bribery contrary to section 4(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and was sentenced to fifteen months' imprisonment. He appeals against that sentence.
2. The appellant is a man of about 40 years of age. He has a long record of minor offences, chiefly consisting of narcotic offences. In February he was stopped by a police officer and questioned. He was found to be in possession of a considerable sum of money and an account book. The suspicions of the police officer were aroused and he was asked to report to the Central Police Station for further inquiries. On the way there, the appellant offered the police officer $300 to give him a chance and let him go. The appellant feared that he would be arrested and prosecuted for the offence of loitering.
3. The period of fifteen months' imprisonment for this offence in the particular circumstances of the case is, in my view, excessive and out of alignment with sentences given for similar offences. I therefore allow the appeal against sentence to the extent of reducing that sentence from fifteen months to six months' imprisonment.
| (Geoffrey Briggs) | |
| Chief justice. |
Representation:
Appellant in person.
Lucas for crown.