Pub operator jailed for perverting justice in orchestrating staged drug arrests
2005-12-15
An operator of a pub, charged by the ICAC, was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for conspiring to pervert justice by orchestrating staged drug arrests, so that he could falsely present himself as an informer to reduce his criminal liability in a dangerous drug case.
Chak Tsan-wing, 47, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Wai Ka-ming, a Detective Police Constable, and Gary Lam Wai-ho, a suspected triad member, to pervert the course of public justice between June 7 and December 31, 2004.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent inquiries revealed the perversion offence.
The court heard that on June 7, 2004, Chak was arrested by the Police for suspected drug-related offences and was subsequently released on police bail.
Lam, who was Chak's close associate, told the latter that Wai could help Chak "fix up" his case.
Through the arrangement of Lam, a meeting was held between Wai, Chak and Lam at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station on June 11, 2004.
During the meeting, Wai suggested to orchestrate staged drug arrests, so that Chak could falsely present himself to the Police as an informer for reducing his criminal liability in the prospective prosecution for drug-related offences.
Wai told Chak that Chak was required to finance the staged arrests, while Lam would be responsible for purchasing the drugs and recruiting purported arrestees.
Wai also told Chak that he would register Chak as a police informer and arrange for police action against the purported arrestees.
At the request of Lam and Wai, Chak made cash payments, totalling $114,000, to Lam on nine occasions for arranging the staged arrests.
The court also heard that during the time while he was on police bail, Chak, through the arrangement by Wai, met police officers for providing purported information in relation to drug-related activities, which were in fact fed to him by Wai.
However, the staged arrrests promised by Wai never materialised. On September 18, 2004, Chak was formally charged by the Police with two drug-related offences and was sentenced, the court was told.
Wai, who was also charged in the ICAC case, was yesterday found guilty of a similar offence of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. He will be sentenced on January 3, 2006.
Lam was also charged in connection with the case. But he failed to appear in court on September 2, 2005 as scheduled. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Bonnie Mak.
Chak Tsan-wing, 47, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Wai Ka-ming, a Detective Police Constable, and Gary Lam Wai-ho, a suspected triad member, to pervert the course of public justice between June 7 and December 31, 2004.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent inquiries revealed the perversion offence.
The court heard that on June 7, 2004, Chak was arrested by the Police for suspected drug-related offences and was subsequently released on police bail.
Lam, who was Chak's close associate, told the latter that Wai could help Chak "fix up" his case.
Through the arrangement of Lam, a meeting was held between Wai, Chak and Lam at the Yau Ma Tei Police Station on June 11, 2004.
During the meeting, Wai suggested to orchestrate staged drug arrests, so that Chak could falsely present himself to the Police as an informer for reducing his criminal liability in the prospective prosecution for drug-related offences.
Wai told Chak that Chak was required to finance the staged arrests, while Lam would be responsible for purchasing the drugs and recruiting purported arrestees.
Wai also told Chak that he would register Chak as a police informer and arrange for police action against the purported arrestees.
At the request of Lam and Wai, Chak made cash payments, totalling $114,000, to Lam on nine occasions for arranging the staged arrests.
The court also heard that during the time while he was on police bail, Chak, through the arrangement by Wai, met police officers for providing purported information in relation to drug-related activities, which were in fact fed to him by Wai.
However, the staged arrrests promised by Wai never materialised. On September 18, 2004, Chak was formally charged by the Police with two drug-related offences and was sentenced, the court was told.
Wai, who was also charged in the ICAC case, was yesterday found guilty of a similar offence of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. He will be sentenced on January 3, 2006.
Lam was also charged in connection with the case. But he failed to appear in court on September 2, 2005 as scheduled. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Bonnie Mak.