CLGC Pty Ltd v Zhang (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 610

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: CLGC Pty Ltd v Zhang (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 610 Hearing dates: 17 May 2023, 6 July 2023, 13 July 2023 Date of orders: 22 May 2024 Decision date: 22 May 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Richmond J Decision: (1) Declare that Mr Zhang is guilty of criminal contempt by authorising payments of $900,000 from the SEPAM Account on 9, 11 and 13 November 2020. (2) Declare that Mr Zhang is guilty of criminal contempt by using the proceeds of sale of the Northbridge property otherwise than in accordance with the Undertaking. (3) The amended notice of motion filed by Mr Zhang on 17 May 2023 is dismissed with costs, to be payable on the indemnity basis as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS — amending, varying and setting aside — for irregularity CONTEMPT — criminal contempt — contumacious breach of orders and undertaking given to the Court — reasonable belief in excuse Legislation Cited: Banking Act 1959 (Cth) Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney-General for Tuvalu v Philatelic Distribution Corporation Ltd [1990] 1 WLR 926 Attorney-General of Ontario v Attorney-General for the Dominion of Canada [1894] AC 189 Attorney-General v Punch Ltd [2003] 1 AC 1046; [2002] UKHL 50 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Goldstar Corporation Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 585 BCEG International Australia Pty Ltd v Xiao [2023] NSWSC 57 Bhagat v Global Custodians Ltd [2002] FCA 223 CLGC Pty Limited v Zhang [2021] NSWSC 946 Colgate Palmolive Co v Cussons Pty Ltd (1993) 46 FCR 225; [1993] FCA 801 Cummings v Claremont Petroleum NL (1996) 185 CLR 124; [1996] HCA 19 DC Rd DC Pty Ltd v Zhang (No 3) [2024] FCA 221 Fountain Selected Meats (Sales) Pty Ltd v International Produce Merchants Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 397 Heath v Tang [1993] 1 WLR 1421 Hedwan v Hannouf (1997) 140 FLR 229 Huang v Liao [2022] NSWSC 347 Hurd v Zomojo Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 148 Investmentsource v Knox Street Apartments [2007] NSWSC 1128 Jorgensen v Fair Work Ombudsman (2019) 271 FCR 461; [2019] FCAFC 113 Kazal v Thunder Studios Inc (California) (2017) 256 FCR 90; [2017] FCAFC 111 Lade & Co Pty Ltd v Black [2006] 2 Qd R 531; [2006] QCA 294 Le Mesurier v Connor (1929) 42 CLR 481; [1929] HCA 41 Mahaffy v Mahaffy (2018) 97 NSWLR 119; [2018] NSWCA 42 Metcash Trading Ltd v Bunn (No 5) [2009] FCA 16 National Australia Bank Ltd v Juric [2001] VSC 375 Neilson v Overseas Projects Corporation of Victoria Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 331; [2005] HCA 54 Noza Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (2010) 273 ALR 621; [2010] FCA 990 Pang v Bydand Holdings Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 69 R v Davison (1954) 90 CLR 353; [1954] HCA 46 Re Intex Consultants Pty Ltd [1986] 2 Qd R 99 Re. Group Pty Ltd v Kazal (No 4) [2017] FCA 1084 Storey v Lane (1981) 147 CLR 549; [1981] HCA 47 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 Zhu v Treasurer of the State of New South Wales (2004) 218 CLR 530 at 571; [2004] HCA 56 Texts Cited: D Rolph, Contempt (Federation Press, 2023) Category: Procedural rulings Parties: CLGC Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff) CLGC Australia Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) CLGC Investment Pty Ltd (Third Plaintiff) CLGC Investment Holdings Pty Ltd (Fourth Plaintiff) Ronglai (Martin) Zhang (First Defendant/Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Cleary (Plaintiffs) Mr Ronglai (Martin) Zhang (First Defendant/Respondent – Self Represented)