Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Ibrahim [2023] NSWSC 1275

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Ibrahim [2023] NSWSC 1275 Hearing dates: 18 July 2023; 17 November 2023 Date of orders: 17 November 2023 Decision date: 17 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Yehia J Decision: (1) The Court declares that Sleiman Ibrahim is guilty of contempt of this Court for refusing to give evidence on 14 and 29 March 2022. (2) Sleiman Ibrahim is sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a period of 8 months commencing on 17 November 2023, such sentence is wholly suspended upon entering into a bond, self, in the sum of $500, to be of good behaviour for a period of 2 years and to comply with the conditions as set out at [91]. Catchwords: CONTEMPT — Sentence — Refusal to give evidence — Where contemnor refused to give evidence due to fears for his safety and the safety of his family — No actual adverse consequences to the result — Significant addiction — Mental health issues that directly impacted upon the contemnor's conduct — Plea of guilty — Imprisonment — Suspension of punishment Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 21A(3)(d) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 38, 65(2)(b), 65(2)(d), cl 4 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Pt 55 rr 11(1), 13 Cases Cited: Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98; [1986] HCA 46 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Levi (No 3) [2008] FCA 1586 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Matthews [2001] NSWSC 735; (2001) 39 ACSR 110 Carl v R [2023] NSWCCA 190 Clay v Clay (No 4) [2004] TASSC 145 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Salvato (No.5) [2013] NSWSC 924 Council of New South Wales Bar Association v Rollinson (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1390 Council of the NSW Bar Association v Rollinson [2022] NSWSC 407 Director of National Parks and Wildlife v Remme (No 2) (1992) 76 LGRA 431 Dowling v Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (2018) 99 NSWLR 229; [2018] NSWCA 340 He v Sun (2021) 104 NSWLR 518; [2021] NSWCA 95 In the Matter of Steven Smith (No. 2) [2015] NSWSC 1141 Kazal v Thunder Studios Inc (California) (2017) 256 FCR 90; [2017] FCAFC 111 Matthews v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2009] NSWCA 155 Moiler v R [2021] NSWCCA 73 NHB Enterprises Pty Ltd v Corry (No 8) [2022] NSWSC 97 Principal Registrar of the Supreme Court (NSW) v Tran [2006] NSWSC 1183; (2006) 166 A Crim R 393 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Fajloun [2016] NSWSC 927 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of NSW v A [2017] NSWSC 495 R v Bilal Razzak [2006] NSWSC 1366; (2006) 166 A Crim R 132 R v Omar [2022] NSWSC 371 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Gilby (Court of Appeal (NSW), 20 August 1991, unrep) Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Maniam [No 2] (1992) 26 NSWLR 309 Resolute Ltd v Warnes [2001] WASCA 4 Trad v Pickles Auction Pty Ltd; In the matter of Carl Trad [2006] NSWSC 1177 Wood v Galea (1996) 84 A Crim R 274 Wood v Staunton (No 5) (1996) 86 A Crim R 183 Category: Sentence Parties: Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Plaintiff) Sleiman Ibrahim (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Kell SC / C Raad (Plaintiff) A McGrath (Defendant)