Commissioner of Police, NSW v Taleb [2019] NSWSC 21

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Commissioner of Police, NSW v Taleb [2019] NSWSC 21 Hearing dates: 21 – 22 November 2018; 3 December 2018; 5 December 2018 Date of orders: 30 January 2019 Decision date: 30 January 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Hamill J Decision: (1) Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 9 and 13 of the schedule to the first subpoena will be struck out. (2) Subject to a claim of public interest immunity, order production of the application for controlled operation authority CB CO 17/097. (3) Subject to a claim of public interest immunity, order production of the authorities, operational plans, and reports created pursuant to the Law Enforcement (Controlled Operations) Act 1997 relating to controlled operation CB CO 17/023, CB CO 17/023 v1 and CB CO 17/023 v2. (4) Subject to order (3) requiring production of the authorities, operational plans and reports, set aside the second subpoena insofar as it seeks the application and associated documents relating to controlled operation authorities CB CO 17/023, CB CO 17/023 v1 and CB CO 17/023 v2. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – application to set aside subpoena – legitimate forensic purpose – metaphors about fishing trips – Controlled Operation Authority – whether subpoena can compel production of application and material behind authority – where NSW police investigate Commonwealth offence – where accused contends operation is unlawful – whether terms of subpoena oppressive Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 310J Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 15M Criminal Code (Cth) 1995 s 119.4 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 138 Law Enforcement (Controlled Operations) Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3,5(2A)(a), 15, 20B, 20C Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) Telecommunications (Interceptions and Access) Act 1979 (Cth) Cases Cited: Alister v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 404; [1984] HCA 85 Allen v Ewing and Anor [2017] NSWSC 1696 Attorney General (NSW) v Chidgey [2008] NSWCCA 65; (2008) 182 A Crim R 536 Burmah Oil Co Ltd v Bank of England [1980] AC 1090; [1979] UKHL 4 Commissioner for Railways v Small (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 564 Dowe v Commissioner of the New South Wales Crime Commission & Anor; Gedeon v Commissioner of the New South Wales Crime Commission & Anor [2007] NSWCA 296; 177 A Crim R 44 Flanagan v Australian Federal Police [1996] FCA 16; 134 ALR 495 Gedeon v Commissioner of NSW Crime Commission (2008) 236 CLR 120; [2008] HCA 43 Gedeon, Gilbert v R [2013] NSWCCA 257 Gould v DPP (Cth) [2018] NSWCCA 109; (2018) 333 FLR 352 Grollo v Palmer (1995) 184 CLR 348; [1995] HCA 26 Murphy v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 94; [1989] HCA 94 Ousley v The Queen (1997) 192 CLR 69; [1997] HCA 49 R v Jenkin (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 697 R v Mokbel (Ruling No 1) [2005] VSC 410 R v Saleam (1989) 16 NSWLR 14 R v Simmons; R v Moore (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 189 Regina (C'Wealth) v Baladjam & Ors [No 28] [2008] NSWSC 1449 Rinehart v Rinehart [2018] NSWSC 1102 Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1; [1978] HCA 43 South Pacific Hotels Services Inc v Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation [1984] 1 NSWLR 710 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Moudasser Taleb Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Representation: Counsel: M Ramage QC (Mr Taleb) T Glover (Commissioner of Police, NSW)