Ibrahim v R [2022] NSWCCA 161

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ibrahim v R [2022] NSWCCA 161 Hearing dates: 22 April 2022 Date of orders: 1 August 2022 Decision date: 01 August 2022 Before: Harrison J at [1] Davies J at [2] Hallen J at [126] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Allow the appeal. 3. Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court of New South Wales on 20 May 2020. 4. In lieu, sentence the appellant to an aggregate sentence of 25 years commencing 8 August 2017 and expiring on 7 August 2042 with a non-parole period of 15 years expiring 7 August 2032. Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – conspiracy to import commercial quantity of MDMA – tobacco smuggling – Commonwealth offences – aggregate sentence - whether and the extent to which an undercover operation and the role of an undercover operative operate to reduce culpability – where sentencing judge found applicant was willing and trusted participant who expected significant financial gain – where sentencing judge did not err in finding that involvement of undercover operative did not substantially diminish applicant's culpability – principles of sentencing offenders involved in controlled operations – relevance of specific and general deterrence in controlled operations – discount of 25% afforded for applicant's guilty plea – where discount was appropriate – issues of parity with co-offender –where applicant could have no justifiable sense of grievance – whether aggregate sentence manifestly excessive – where undiscounted indicative sentences fell outside range of reasonable sentences in circumstances of offending – where notional accumulation was unreasonable – appeal against sentence allowed – imposition of aggregate sentence for multiple Commonwealth offences – applicant re-sentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) ss 15GI(2)(f), 19(2) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 53A Criminal Code (Cth) ss 11.2(1), 11.5(1), 302.2(1), 307.1(1), 400.3(1) Customs Act 1901 (Cth) s 233BABAD(1) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 138 Cases Cited: BJS v R (2013) 231 A Crim R 537; [2013] NSWCCA 123 Betka v R; Ghazaoui v R; Hawchar v R [2020] NSWCCA 191 Burke v R [2022] NSWCCA 6 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Beattie [2017] NSWCCA 301; (2017) 270 A Crim R 556 Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) v Kumas [2021] VSCA 215 Dusan Pavicevic v R [2010] ACTCA 25 Dwayhi v R; Bechara v R [2011] NSWCCA 67; (2011) 205 A Crim R 274 Gill v R [2010] NSWCCA 236 Haval Kada v The Queen; [2017] VSCA 339 He v Sun (2021) 104 NSWLR 518; [2021] NSWCA 95; (2017) 270 A Crim R 197 Lam v R [2014] NSWCCA 5 Lee v R [2020] NSWCCA 244 Majid v R [2010] NSWCCA 121 Morgan v R [2017] NSWCCA 269 PD v R [2012] NSWCCA 242 Patel v R [20222] NSWCCA 3 R v Clarke [2013] NSWCCA 260 R v Delzotto [2022] NSWCCA 117 R v Ibrahim, Moustafa [2020] NSWDC 254 R v N; [1999] NSWCCA 187 (1999) 106 A Crim R 493 R v Mostafa Dib [2020] NSWDC 145 R v Spizzerri [2001] VSCA 49 R v Swan 2006] NSWCCA 47 R v Taouk (1992) 65 A Crim R 387 Ridgeway v The Queen (1995) 184 CLR 19; [1995] HCA 66 Smith (a pseudonym) v R [2022] NSWCCA 123 Stephens v R [2009] NSWCCA 240 Stevenson v R [2022] NSWCCA 133 Truong v R; R v Le; Nguyen v R; R v Nguyen [2013] NSWCCA 36 Wan v R [2017] NSWCCA 261 Zreika v R [2012] NSWCCA 44; (2012) 223 A Crim R 460 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Moustafa Ibrahim (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Game SC & Ms A Francis (Applicant) Mr L Crowley QC with Ms P McEniery (Respondent)