Oriental Financial Services Corporation Ltd vs. Range Forest Officer and Another – sllr 2011 volume 1 page 086

The case between Oriental Financial Services Corporation Ltd (petitioner/finance company) and the Range Forest Officer and another addressed whether a vehicle used in timber transport without a permit should be confiscated under the Forest Ordinance, and the status of the vehicle’s rightful owner for purposes of such confiscation. The findings established that the registered owner, who had pled guilty to the offence, was regarded as the “owner” under the law, not the petitioner finance company holding the absolute title. The statutory intent was interpreted as focusing on the effective control of the vehicle rather than mere financial ownership. Dismissal of the petition reaffirmed that recognizing the finance company as owner would undermine the objectives of the Forest Ordinance. Emphasi