Detective Senior Constable Wilkes v Abou-Yaghi [2012] NSWDC 6

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Detective Senior Constable Wilkes v Abou-Yaghi [2012] NSWDC 6 Hearing dates: 24 and 25 January 2012 Decision date: 03 February 2012 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Gibson DCJ Decision: (1) Pursuant to s 219 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), I find that the first respondent is lawfully entitled to the property the subject of these proceedings, namely the BMW motor vehicle. (2) The following properties are to be delivered to the first respondent pursuant to s 219 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW): (a) 1 BMW X5 NSW Rego BLR96B (b) 2 keys to BMW X5 NSW Rego BLR96B (c) 1 REVS Papers for BMW X5 NSW Rego BLR96B (d) 1 RTA Rego Papers for BMW X5 NSW Rego BLR96B (e) 1 Log book for BMW X5 NSW Rego BLR96B. (3) The applicant's summons is otherwise dismissed. (4) The second respondent pay the costs of the applicant and first respondent with liberty to apply for any variation of this costs order. (5) Exhibits retained until further order. Catchwords: CONTRACT - Sale of goods - sale of car to rogue who sells to a third party - whether third party a bona fide purchaser without notice - whether sale of car to rogue a void or voidable transaction when the contract provides that property will not pass until the cheque has cleared Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 192E(1)(a) and 253(b)(i) Factors (Mercantile Agents) Act 1923 (NSW), s 5 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), s 219 Sale of Goods Act 1923 (NSW), ss 5 and 28 Cases Cited: Associated Midland Corporation v Sanderson Motors Pty Ltd [1983] 3 NSWLR 395 Bird v DMBA Pty Ltd (District Court of New South Wales, Gibb DCJ, 14 April 2011, unreported) Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Cundy v Lindsay (1878) 3 App Cas 459 Davey v Robinson's Motors Pty Ltd (1958) 75 WN (NSW) 56 Fawcett v Star Car Sales Ltd [1960] NZLR 406 Gamer's Motor Centre (Newcastle) Pty Ltd v Natwest Wholesale Australia (1987) 163 CLR 236 Godfrey v Sevenoaks (1958) 75 WN (NSW) 487 Heap v Motorists' Advisory Agency Ltd [1923] 1 KB 577 International Alpaca Management Pty Ltd v Ensor (1995) 133 ALR 561 Lelato Pty Ltd v Halse Holdings Pty Ltd [2004] WASC 267 Lewis v Averay [1972] 1 QB 198; [1971] 3 All ER 907; [1971] 3 WLR 603 Papas v Bianca Investments Pty Ltd (2002) 82 SASR 581 Phillips v Brooks Ltd [1919] 2 KB 243 Rejfek v McElroy (1965) 112 CLR 517 Shogun Finance Ltd v Hudson [2003] All ER (D) 258 (Nov); [2003] UKHL 62; [2004] 1 AC 919; [2004] 1 All ER 215; [2003] 3 WLR 1371; [2004] 1 All ER (Comm) 332 Vassallo v Haddad Import & Export Pty Ltd (2004) 2 DCLR (NSW) 123 Texts Cited: --- Category: Principal judgment Parties: Applicant: Detective Senior Constable Alan Wilkes First Respondent: Hatem Abou-Yaghi Second Respondent: Jiaqi Guo Representation: Applicant: Ms E Bayley (solicitor) First Respondent: Mr P Butterfield Second Respondent: Mr A Norrie Applicant: Crown Solicitors Office First Respondent: Turks Legal Second Respondent: Wang & Associates File Number(s): 2011/342774 Publication restriction: None