Detik Ria Sdn Bhd v Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited & Anor [2025] 3 AMR 461, FC

Contract – Agreements – Call and put option agreements – Validity of – Agreements entered when Insurance Act 1996 ("IA 1996") still in force – Failure to obtain prior approval of Minister of Finance ("the minister") required under s 67 of the IA 1996 – Financial Services Act 2013 ("FSA") repealed IA 1996, requiring prior approval of Bank Negara instead of the minister – Whether IA 1996 prevailed over the FSA – Whether failure to obtain the minister's consent rendered agreements invalid and unenforceable – Whether s 67 of the IA 1996 should be construed literally or purposively – Consequences in law if illegality arises in course of performance of agreement – Whether s 66 of the Contracts Act 1950 appropriate remedy – Contracts Act 1950, ss 24(a), (b), 66 – Financial Services Act 2013, ss 87(1), 272(l) – Insurance Act 1996, s 67, 67(1)

Contract – Restitution – Appeal – Agreements entered when Insurance Act 1996 ("IA 1996") still in force – Failure to obtain prior approval of Minister of Finance ("the minister") as required under s 67 of the IA 1996 – Financial Services Act 2013 ("FSA") repealed IA 1996, requiring prior approval of Bank Negara instead of the minister – Whether IA 1996 prevailed over the FSA – Whether failure to obtain the minister's consent rendered agreements invalid and unenforceable – Consequences in law if illegality arises in course of performance of agreement – Whether s 66 of the Contracts Act 1950 appropriate remedy – Contracts Act 1950, ss 24(a), (b), 66 – Financial Services Act 2013, ss 87(1), 272(l) – Insurance Act 1996, s 67, 67(1)

Ng Mee Yee & Anor v Pendakwa Raya [2025] 3 AMR 532, CA

Dangerous drugs – Trafficking – Possession – Methamphetamine – Appeal against conviction and sentence – Drugs found in unit rented by accused – Denial of knowledge and possession – Conviction under s 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with death sentence imposed – Whether possession and knowledge of drugs established – Whether there was common intention between accused persons – Whether lack of DNA and fingerprint evidence fatal – Whether double presumption invoked – Whether conviction and sentence safe – Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 – Criminal Procedure Code, s 182A – Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, ss 2, 37(d), 39B(1)(a) – Evidence Act 1950, s 8 – Penal Code, s 34

Public Prosecutor v Lee Li Thing [2025] 3 AMR 563, HC

Criminal procedure – Acquittal and discharge – Appeal – Accused charged for sale of uncustomed and prohibited cigarettes without proper documents – Prima facie case made out against accused at end of prosecution case – First element of offence held not proved after finding of prima facie case revisited at end of trial – Whether amounted to appealable error, warranting appellate intervention – Whether ingredients of charge proved – Whether defence of lack of knowledge established – Criminal Procedure Code, s 178(f)(ii) – Customs Act 1967, s 135(1)(d), (2), 119 – Customs Duties (Prohibition of Import) Order 2017, Part II, Third Schedule

Customs and excise – Seizure – Prohibited goods – Appeal against acquittal and discharge – Accused charged for sale of uncustomed and prohibited cigarettes without proper documents – Prima facie case made out against accused at end of prosecution case – First element of offence held not proved after finding of prima facie case revisited at end of trial – Whether amounted to appealable error, warranting appellate intervention – Whether ingredients of charge proved – Whether defence of lack of knowledge established – Criminal Procedure Code, s 178(f)(ii) – Customs Act 1967, s 135(1)(d), (2), 119 – Customs Duties (Prohibition of Import) Order 2017, Part II, Third Schedule