- 2 with dishonest intent to cause loss to another, contrary to s. 161(1)(d) of the
Crimes Ord., Cap. 200. He pleaded guilty. The Magistrate sent for
detention centre, probation and community service reports. On 18 April
2002, after considering such reports and hearing mitigation by counsel on
the Appellant’s behalf, the Magistrate ordered that the Appellant be
detained in a detention centre. The Appellant now appeals against that
sentence. His counsel submits that the Magistrate erred in making a
detention centre order rather than a community service order.
2.
The present offence was committed during the period between
20 August and 10 October 2001. Prior to that the Appellant had been in
trouble with the law twice. On 7 July 1997 he was fined for theft. On 18
August 1997 he was put on 12 months’ probation for theft.
3.
As for the facts of the present case, they are best taken from
what the Magistrate put to the Appellant and he admitted. The following
appears from the transcript of the proceedings on 28 March 2002:
“COURT : The owner of this computer sent her computer for
servicing to your company. After she received it
back, she received a bill from her internet service
provider for a sum which she knew she could not have
incurred. A check was conducted and it was found
out that for the period involved her internet account
was used through the telephone line of the company
where you worked.
You were arrested. You later admitted that you had
retrieved from the customer’s computer the relevant
internet information and you had installed that
information in your own computer and during that
time had used the customer’s internet account for
yourself. The amount of money incurred by your
use was $286.81.
Are these facts correct?
DEFENDANT: Facts admitted.”