Application by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police v Sun [2024] NSWSC 890

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Application by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police v Sun [2024] NSWSC 890 Hearing dates: 14-18 November 2022, 9 February 2023 Date of orders: 24 July 2024 Decision date: 24 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) The Court refuses the application by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police for a forfeiture order pursuant to s 49 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth). (2) Any parties seeking costs under s 323 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) shall, within 14 days of the date of the delivery of this judgment, file submissions of no more than five pages, together with any documents upon which reliance is placed for that purpose and any party opposing such order shall, within a further 14 days, file submissions of no more than five pages together with any documents upon which the opponent relies. The matter will be listed for short argument before the Court at a convenient time to the parties. Catchwords: CRIME – proceeds of crime – Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) – application for a forfeiture order – whether real property and monies in bank accounts is proceeds of crime – chose in action – whether chose in action is proceeds of crime or instrument of serious offence Legislation Cited: Commonwealth Constitution, s 51(xxxi) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 4B, 192E, 192G Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth), ss 17, 18, 49, Pt 2-2 Div 5 Subdivs B-C, 73, 77, 78, 180, 318A, 318B, 329, 330, 338, Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), ss 135.2, 400.9(1) Cases Cited: Anning v Anning (1907) 4 CLR 1049; [1907] HCA 13 Blackadder v Ramsey Butchering (2005) 221 CLR 539; [2005] HCA 22 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Collier v Sunday Referee Publishing Co Ltd [1940] 2 KB 647; [1940] 4 All ER 234 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd (2022) 275 CLR 165; [2022] HCA 1 Herald and Weekly Times Ltd v Commonwealth (1966) 115 CLR 418; [1966] HCA 78 Lordianto v Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (2019) 266 CLR 273; [2019] HCA 39 Paull v Munday (1975) 11 SASR 346 R v Neil; Ex parte Cinema International Corporation Pty Ltd (1976) 134 CLR 2; [1976] HCA 11 R v Watson; Ex parte Australian Workers' Union (1972) 128 CLR 77; [1972] HCA 72 Re Queensland Electricity Commission; Ex parte Electrical Trades Union of Australia (1987) 61 ALJR 393; [1987] HCA 27 State Government Insurance Office (Qld) v Crittenden (1966) 117 CLR 412; [1966] HCA 56 Ta Lee Investment Pty Ltd v Antonios [2019] NSWCA 24 Technical Products Pty Ltd v State Government Insurance Office (Qld) (1989) 167 CLR 45; [1989] HCA 24 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (Plaintiff) Jieying Sun (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: G O'Mahoney / D Tang (Plaintiff) G A Sirtes SC / P Reynolds (Defendant) Solicitors: Criminal Assets Litigation, Australian Federal Police (Plaintiff) MLH Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 2015/308779