Chapter 1 - Jurisdiction (Pending Mind Map) Flashcards
JURISDICTION
Overview
1) Subordinate - 2nd class magistrate
2) Subordinate - 1st class magistrate
3) Subordinate - Sessions Court
4) Additional powers of Subordinate Courts
5) CJ - High Court
5) CJ - Court of Appeal
6) CJ - Federal Court
SUBORDINATE - 2ND CLASS MAGISTRATE
Overview
1) Trial jurisdiction
2) Sentencing jurisdiction
3) Additional powers
SUBORDINATE - 2ND CLASS MAGISTRATE
Trial jurisdiction
1) The law:
- S.88 SCA: imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or punishable with fine only.
- if powers of punishment is inadequate, he shall take necessary steps to adjourn the trial by First Class Magistrate.
2) Application & scope - N Indra Nallathamby v PP:
SUBORDINATE - 2ND CLASS MAGISTRATE
Sentencing jurisdiction
1) The law - S.89 SCA:
- not exceeding 6 months imprisonment;
- fine not more than one thousand ringgit.
sentence combining either of the sentence.
2) Application & scope - N Indra Nallathamby v PP:
-
SUBORDINATE - 1ST CLASS MAGISTRATE
Overview
1) trial jurisdiction
2) application & scope of trial jurisdiction
3) sentencing jurisdiction - general
4) sentencing jurisdiction - exception 1
5) sentencing jurisdiction - exception 2
SUBORDINATE - 1ST CLASS MAGISTRATE
trial jurisdiction
1) The law - S.85:
- imprisonment: does not exceed 10 years;
- fine: offence punishable with fine only;
- offences: S.392 + S.457
2) Scope:
- Imprisonment: does not exceed 10 years;
- Fine: punishable with fine only;
- Offences: S.392 & S.457
SUBORDINATE - 1ST CLASS MAGISTRATE
application of trial jurisdiction
1) “shall have” - Nadarajah v PP:
- ‘shall have jurisdiction’ means that in either of the courts a case is filed, it is imperative for them to exercise the jurisdiction.
- When a case falling within jurisdiction of magistrate’s court but is filed at sessions court, court cannot decline to exercise the jurisdiction.
2) whether can try S.397 PC - Re Subramaniam a/l Sanasi:
- S.397 is a rider to S.392;
- S.397 per se does not create any such offence and therefore it can be tried by FCM.
3) whether can try S.397 PC - Lee Heng Kooi v PP:
- S.87 SCA should be read with opening phrase of S.85 SCA.
- As S.87 SCA clearly confers powers to a First Class Magistrate to impose (inter alia ) a sentence of whipping of up to twelve strokes, jurisdictional powers to try offences which allow for whipping must obviously implied by virtue of S.40 of the Interpretation Act 1967.
SUBORDINATE - 2ND CLASS MAGISTRATE
sentencing jurisdiction - general
S.87(1):
- 5 years imprisonment;
- fine of 10k;
- whipping up to 12 strokes;
- any sentence combing above sentences.
SUBORDINATE - 1ST CLASS MAGISTRATE
sentencing jurisdiction - exception 1
1) The law:
Proviso to S.87(1):
2) The scope:
- jurisdiction to award the full punishment authorised by the law.
2) Examples:
- Cheong Ah Cheow v PP:
High Court proceeded to affirm the fine of RM20k by the Magistrate - PP v Yap Sin Peng:
High Court enhanced the fine of RM2k to RM20k.
SUBORDINATE - 1ST CLASS MAGISTRATE
sentencing jurisdiction - exception 2
1) The law:
- S.87(2) SCA
2) The scope:
- excess punishment by reason of previous convictions.
3) Scope - Soosainathan v PP:
- S.87(2) provides for statutory sanctions for an increased penalty;
- Previous convictions are relevant to satisfy the statutory requirement for the purpose of subjecting the accused to increased penalties allocated for second or subsequent offence.
4) Duty of prosecution - PP v Tengku Hitam:
- Prosecution must review and satisfy itself whether the maximum punishment which a court can impose is adequate before a case is presented.
- 87(2) should only be invoked when the case takes an unexpected turn and the sentence that can be imposed (as reviewed earlier) is inadequate.
5) Entitlement to previous convictions - Abdul Wahab v PP:
- magistrate is not entitled to have the previous convictions of the accused until after the accused has been convicted.
6) Duty of Magistrate - Govindnan a/l Chinden Nair:
- when a Magistrate invoked 87(2) to impose sentences and no appeal had been lodged against the sentence, he must transmit the record to the High Court stating his reasons to do so.
- High Court may satisfy itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of the sentence imposed in the exercise of the special power under S.87(2).
SUBORDINATE - SESSIONS COURT
Overview
1) trial jurisdiction
2) sentencing jurisdiction
3) reference to constitutional question
SUBORDINATE - SESSIONS COURT
Trial jurisdiction
1) The law - S.63 SCA:
- Offences: all offences
- Exceptions: offences punishable with death.
2) Scope - Ng Kook Kin v PP:
- When an accused is tried with an offence that directly mentioned Sessions Court, the word “shall” in the provision is mandatory.
- Thus, only Sessions court is vested with jurisdiction to hear the case.
SUBORDINATE - SESSIONS COURT
Sentencing jurisdiction
The law - S.64 SCA:
- Sentence: All sentence
- Exceptions: Death sentence
SUBORDINATE - SESSIONS COURT
Constitutional question
S.30(1) CJA:
- when there is any question arises to the effect of any provision in the Constitution, presiding officer may stay the proceedings & transmit the record to the High Court.
ADDITIONAL POWERS OF SUBORDINATE COURT
Overview
1) Source of additional powers
2) List of additional powers
3) Exercising additional powers
ADDITIONAL POWERS OF SUBORDINATE COURT
Source of additional powers
S.99A CJA:
- additional powers are set in Third Schedule.
ADDITIONAL POWERS OF SUBORDINATE COURT
List of additional powers
1) Res judicata & multiplicity of proceedings:
- power to dismiss or stay proceedings where the matter in question is res judicata;
- or because of multiplicity of proceedings, the proceedings ought not to be continued.
2) Stay of proceedings:
- Power to stay proceedings unless they have been instituted correctly by the reasons thereof;
- i.e. where cause of action arose.
3) Transfer of proceedings:
- Power to transfer any proceedings to another court of co-ordinate jurisdiction;
- Power is exercisable on its own motion or on application.
ADDITIONAL POWERS OF SUBORDINATE COURT
Exercising additional powers
Dunlop Malaysian Industries Bhd v PP:
- such powers can be exercised only in the manner prescribed by a written law.
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Overview
1) Jurisdiction conferred by statute - trial jurisdiction
2) Jurisdiction conferred by statute - sentencing jurisdiction
3) Jurisdiction conferred by statute - appellate jurisdiction
4) Jurisdiction conferred by statute - revisionary jurisdiction
5) Jurisdiction conferred by statute - constitutional question
6) Inherent powers of HC
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Jurisdiction conferred by statute - trial jurisdiction
1) The law:
S.22(1) CJA
2) Scope:
- Offences: all offences
- Criterion:
- within its local jurisdiction
- on the High Seas on board of any ship / aircraft registered in Malaysia
- committed by any citizen or any PR;
- committed by any person where the offence is piracy by the law of nations.
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Jurisdiction conferred by statute - sentencing jurisdiction
S.22(2) CJA:
- all sentence allowed by law.
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Jurisdiction conferred by statute - appellate jurisdiction
S.26 CJA:
- hear appeals from subordinate courts within the territorial jurisdiction of the High Court.
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Jurisdiction conferred by statute - revisionary jurisdiction
1) Revision of criminal proceedings of sub-courts -S.31 CJA:
- powers of revision in respect of criminal proceedings in subordinate courts.
2) General revisionary or supervisionary power - S.35 CJA:
- call for the record of the proceedings at its own motion or at the instance of any party or person interested.
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Jurisdiction conferred by statute - constitutional question
1) The law & scope - S.30 CJA:
- power to examine the record of proceedings should any question of constitution arise in the subordinate courts;
- If the judge considers that there is constitutional issue, he should refer the question to FC (per S.84 CJA).
2) Procedures - Gan Boon Aun v PP:
- HC decides whether there was a question of constitutional issue on a matter referred to it.
- No constitutional issue - send back to Sessions Court for disposal.
- Yes constitutional issue - transmit to FC.
NOTE: HC does not have the power to determine constitutional issue.
JURISDICTION OF HIGH COURT
Inherent powers of HC
1) Scope & test - Karpal Singh & Anor v PP:
- Subordinate Courts have no inherent power.
- Test - miscarriage of justice:
- i.e. Power may be invoked by HC when there is a miscarriage of justice.
2) Applicability - Karpal Singh & Anor v PP:
- No overriding express provision or when there is alternative remedy;
- i.e. Inherent power cannot be invoked to override an express provision of law or when there is other remedy available.
2) Applicability - Chew Wai Keong v PP:
- The inherent powers are strictly confined to procedural matters only.
JURISDICTION OF COURT OF APPEAL
Overview
1) Constitution of CA
2) Appellate jurisdiction
3) Powers of CA