A registered voter of the 2007 Village Representative (VR) Election was today (Friday) ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for committing a voting offence in the VR election for Sha Kong Wai in Yuen Long.

The defendant, 47, was earlier found guilty of one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at an election, contrary to Section 16(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.

Tuen Mun Magistrate Mr Peter Hui meted out a community service order after taking into account the defendant's background report.

The defendant had submitted a Voter Registration Form on June 12, 2006 for the 2007 Village Representative Election (Resident Representative) in which he claimed that he had been a resident of Sha Kong Wai for the three years immediately before registering as an elector.

The court heard that the defendant had moved out from Sha Kong Wai since late 2003.

The Home Affairs Department (HAD), however, had not received any amendments in respect of the defendant's particulars, including his residential address.

On the polling day on February 4, 2007, HAD staff reminded electors that if anyone of them had moved out from the village, he or she would be disqualified to vote, and that it would be an offence if the elector voted in the election.

The defendant had voted at the said election knowing that he was not entitled to do so.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Marco Li and assisted by ICAC officer Paul Lau.