On 1 June 2020, the Court of Final Appeal handed down its decision in HKSAR v Chu Ang FACC No. 6 of 2019 (on appeal from HCMA No. 119 of 2018 [2020] HKCFA 18) allowing the prosecution’s appeal and setting aside the lower courts’ previous rulings that there was no case for the Defendant to answer. The leave to appeal was granted on the basis that it was reasonably arguable that there had been a substantial and grave injustice in the misapplication of section 9 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap 201).

In the case of香港特別行政區 訴 劉文建 [2021] HKCFI 3078, the Court of First Instance considered an appeal case from the Magistrates’ court which concerns the common law offence of misconduct in public office. This case illustrates the application of the principles reformulated in the landmark case of Sin Kam Wah v HKSAR (2005) 8 HKCFAR 192.

In the commercial world, it is not uncommon for people to become business partners with friends and acquaintances who share similar visions and business ideas. However, one should always exercise caution when considering whether to accept business relations with another. In the recent case of HKSAR v Man Yiu Pun [2020] HKCA 344, the District Court held a person “helping a friend out with his business” to be guilty of two money laundering charges.