Salesman gets three months for vote-rigging at DC Election
2012-11-29
A salesman, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for vote-rigging at the 2011 District Council (DC) Election.
Tai Hin-wing, 29, was earlier found guilty of one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at election, contrary to Section 16(1)(b)(i) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Ho Wai-yang said as vote-rigging was an offence of a serious nature, Tai deserved a custodial sentence.
The magistrate added that a heavier punishment was to be imposed on Tai should she not make reference to the two-month jail term earlier given to each of two co-defendants in the same case.
Upon Tai’s application, the magistrate granted him cash bail of $10,000, pending his appeal. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and not to leave Hong Kong.
The court heard that on July 16, 2011, Tai submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office his application for registration as an elector at the 2011 Yau Tsim Mong DC Election (King’s Park Constituency).
In his application, Tai stated that a flat in Foo Tat Building, 50 Soy Street, Mongkok was his only or principal residential address.
The owner cum occupant of the address confirmed that the flat was used for goods storage and he did not know Tai. In fact, Tai resided at a flat outside the constituency, though the flat was located in Soy Street, Mongkok.
Examination of the marked copies of the register confirmed that on the polling day on November 6, 2011, Tai obtained a ballot paper and voted at the DC Election after having given to the electoral officer information that he knew to be materially false or misleading, the court was told.
Charged in the same case were two sisters –'96 Yim Mei-ki and Yim Sze-ming, who earlier each pleaded guilty to a similar voting offence. They were each jailed for two months by Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen at Kowloon City Magistracy in August this year.
So far, a total of 44 persons, including the above three defendants, have been convicted of charges of voting-rigging, providing false information in the registration of elector and conspiracy to defraud in relation to the DC Election.
Of them, 34 pleaded guilty to their respective charges and 10 were found guilty after trial. They were given sentences ranging from community service to one year in jail, with one awaiting sentencing.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Florrie Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Chris Ng.
Tai Hin-wing, 29, was earlier found guilty of one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at election, contrary to Section 16(1)(b)(i) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Ho Wai-yang said as vote-rigging was an offence of a serious nature, Tai deserved a custodial sentence.
The magistrate added that a heavier punishment was to be imposed on Tai should she not make reference to the two-month jail term earlier given to each of two co-defendants in the same case.
Upon Tai’s application, the magistrate granted him cash bail of $10,000, pending his appeal. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and not to leave Hong Kong.
The court heard that on July 16, 2011, Tai submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office his application for registration as an elector at the 2011 Yau Tsim Mong DC Election (King’s Park Constituency).
In his application, Tai stated that a flat in Foo Tat Building, 50 Soy Street, Mongkok was his only or principal residential address.
The owner cum occupant of the address confirmed that the flat was used for goods storage and he did not know Tai. In fact, Tai resided at a flat outside the constituency, though the flat was located in Soy Street, Mongkok.
Examination of the marked copies of the register confirmed that on the polling day on November 6, 2011, Tai obtained a ballot paper and voted at the DC Election after having given to the electoral officer information that he knew to be materially false or misleading, the court was told.
Charged in the same case were two sisters –'96 Yim Mei-ki and Yim Sze-ming, who earlier each pleaded guilty to a similar voting offence. They were each jailed for two months by Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen at Kowloon City Magistracy in August this year.
So far, a total of 44 persons, including the above three defendants, have been convicted of charges of voting-rigging, providing false information in the registration of elector and conspiracy to defraud in relation to the DC Election.
Of them, 34 pleaded guilty to their respective charges and 10 were found guilty after trial. They were given sentences ranging from community service to one year in jail, with one awaiting sentencing.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Florrie Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Chris Ng.