Taxi company operators jailed for perversion over scapegoat plot
2008-12-11
Two operators of two taxi companies, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) sent to jail at the District Court for hiring a “scapegoat” to shoulder the blame for 20 traffic tickets incurred by drivers who rented taxis from the two companies.
Yuen Sun-wing, 44, operator of Silver Dragon Taxi Limited (Silver Dragon), received a jail term of four and a half years, while Kwan Fat-cheong, 52, operator of Shun Po Motor Company Limited (Shun Po), was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Sham Siu-man remarked that custodial sentences must be imposed on the defendants to serve as a deterrent, in view of the immense public interest involved in the case.
The judge also said the offences committed by the defendants had impaired the road traffic system, and put the lives of other road users, drivers of other vehicles as well as taxi passengers at risk.
Yuen and Kwan were earlier found guilty of a joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, while Yuen was further convicted of a similar conspiracy offence.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above conspiracy offences.
The court heard that in August 2005, Yuen invited Sin Ki-hoi to act as a “scapegoat” to admit a traffic offence for a driver, who rented a taxi from Silver Dragon. Sin got a monetary reward of $1,950.
Yuen continued to arrange Sin to stand in as the “scapegoat” to take the blame for five other traffic offences involving other taxis rented from Silver Dragon. Sin earned $1,500 on each occasion.
As far as the six traffic offences concerned, Sin falsely represented to the police that he was the offending driver. As a result, a total of 20 driving offence points were deducted from Sin, who was also fined $2,850 in total.
The court also heard that in October 2005, Yuen introduced Sin to Kwan at a meeting.
Subsequent to the meeting, Sin was arranged by Yuen and Kwan to admit traffic offences for the offending drivers of Shun Po on 14 occasions. In each case, Sin earned $1,000 to $1,500.
Sin falsely represented to the police that he was the offending driver on the 14 occasions concerned, despite the fact that Sin was admitted to hospital for medical treatment at the time of the occurrence of some of the offences.
For the above 14 traffic offences, Sin had incurred a total of 42 driving offence points and was fined $8,400 in total, the court was told.
Sin, 60, was also charged for his role in the case. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, and was jailed for 16 months in October last year.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Margaret Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Harry Wong.
Yuen Sun-wing, 44, operator of Silver Dragon Taxi Limited (Silver Dragon), received a jail term of four and a half years, while Kwan Fat-cheong, 52, operator of Shun Po Motor Company Limited (Shun Po), was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Sham Siu-man remarked that custodial sentences must be imposed on the defendants to serve as a deterrent, in view of the immense public interest involved in the case.
The judge also said the offences committed by the defendants had impaired the road traffic system, and put the lives of other road users, drivers of other vehicles as well as taxi passengers at risk.
Yuen and Kwan were earlier found guilty of a joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, while Yuen was further convicted of a similar conspiracy offence.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above conspiracy offences.
The court heard that in August 2005, Yuen invited Sin Ki-hoi to act as a “scapegoat” to admit a traffic offence for a driver, who rented a taxi from Silver Dragon. Sin got a monetary reward of $1,950.
Yuen continued to arrange Sin to stand in as the “scapegoat” to take the blame for five other traffic offences involving other taxis rented from Silver Dragon. Sin earned $1,500 on each occasion.
As far as the six traffic offences concerned, Sin falsely represented to the police that he was the offending driver. As a result, a total of 20 driving offence points were deducted from Sin, who was also fined $2,850 in total.
The court also heard that in October 2005, Yuen introduced Sin to Kwan at a meeting.
Subsequent to the meeting, Sin was arranged by Yuen and Kwan to admit traffic offences for the offending drivers of Shun Po on 14 occasions. In each case, Sin earned $1,000 to $1,500.
Sin falsely represented to the police that he was the offending driver on the 14 occasions concerned, despite the fact that Sin was admitted to hospital for medical treatment at the time of the occurrence of some of the offences.
For the above 14 traffic offences, Sin had incurred a total of 42 driving offence points and was fined $8,400 in total, the court was told.
Sin, 60, was also charged for his role in the case. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, and was jailed for 16 months in October last year.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Margaret Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Harry Wong.