Five months' jail for restauranteur offering 'protection fees' to Police Sergeant
2001-12-17
A shareholder of a restaurant was today (Monday) sentenced to five months' imprisonment for offering monthly "protection fees" totalling $16,000 to a Police Sergeant.
Lam Kwun-man, 30, of Ichimoto Japanese Restaurant (Ichimoto), earlier pleaded guilty to eight counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Two other shareholders of the restaurant were each jailed for 10 months earlier after pleading guilty to similar charges.
In sentencing Lam today, Tsuen Wan Magistrate Mr Stephen Smout said although the defendant’s role was relatively minor compared to his associates, bribing a police officer was nonetheless a serious offence.
The magistrate also said he had taken into consideration Lam's guilty plea and his assistance in the ICAC investigation.
The court heard that in late 1997, Lam become a shareholder and manager of Ichimoto in Tsuen Wan.
Upon the instruction of two other major shareholders, Lam paid monthly protection fee of $2,000 to Police Sergeant Ku Ying-lai, believing that Ku could offer assistance in case triad members caused nuisance to Ichimoto, until July 1998.
Ku was then attached to the Regional Anti-triad Unit / Kowloon West.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Christina Sin.
Lam Kwun-man, 30, of Ichimoto Japanese Restaurant (Ichimoto), earlier pleaded guilty to eight counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Two other shareholders of the restaurant were each jailed for 10 months earlier after pleading guilty to similar charges.
In sentencing Lam today, Tsuen Wan Magistrate Mr Stephen Smout said although the defendant’s role was relatively minor compared to his associates, bribing a police officer was nonetheless a serious offence.
The magistrate also said he had taken into consideration Lam's guilty plea and his assistance in the ICAC investigation.
The court heard that in late 1997, Lam become a shareholder and manager of Ichimoto in Tsuen Wan.
Upon the instruction of two other major shareholders, Lam paid monthly protection fee of $2,000 to Police Sergeant Ku Ying-lai, believing that Ku could offer assistance in case triad members caused nuisance to Ichimoto, until July 1998.
Ku was then attached to the Regional Anti-triad Unit / Kowloon West.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Christina Sin.