COMMENT | In Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, when the character, Mr Bumble is informed that “the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction”, Mr Bumble replies: “If the law supposes that, the law is an ass – an idiot.”

Today’s column is not on hen-pecked husbands but what is law perceived and supposed in a couple of make-believe situations.

Supposing I am a crook who has stolen billions if not millions from the people. In my possession, I have luxury goods, jewels and hard cash in currencies of different countries which runs into millions.

The long arm of the law caught up with me and my wife. They took away part of the wealth we had accumulated and both have been indicted on several criminal offences and the state has filed civil suits seeking the return of the riches so that it can be added on to its coffers.

In the meantime, the government seeks to forfeit all those ill-gotten riches. So, they go and seek...