A PERSON would be penalised twice for previous convictions under sweeping proposals to fight triad and organised crimes, the Bar Association warned yesterday. The legislation violated the principle of the common law system and the Bill of Rights, Bar Association representative John Mullick said in an ad hoc group meeting to study the Organised and Serious Crime Bill. Section 27 of the bill allowed judges to increase a criminal's sentence if he had previously been convicted of an organised crime, an offence related to an organised crime, or an offence related to triad activities. ''It is unfair for them to be punished further because they had already served their previous punishment and paid for the penalty,'' Mr Mullick said, adding that the clause should be repealed. The association was also opposed to the right granted to the Governor-in-Council to amend the offences covered by the law, because the council's proceedings were confidential. The administration maintained the clause was necessary to deter criminals. The Attorney-General would study the case carefully .
