Five face court for alleged VCD 'scapgoat' plot
2000-3-17
An unemployed man and four operators of a pirated VCD shop, charged by the ICAC for allegedly plotting to arrange a “ scapegoat ” to face prosecution by the Customs and Excise Department (C&E), appeared at San Po Kong Court today (Friday).
The defendants were : Chan Wai-kit 32, unemployed, Szeto Tat-kwong, 45, Lam Chi-wah, 29, Kwong Ming-yuet, 26 and Kong Shiu-king, 52, all operators of a shop known as Game World selling pirated VCDs.
They pleaded not guilty to one joint charge of conspiring with Cheung Ting-hong and a person known as "Ah Ben" to pervert the course of public justice.
The defendants were said to have falsely represented to the C&E that Chan Wai-kit was the operator of Game World situated in Yue Xiu Plaza, San Po Kong, between November 21, 1998 and August 13, 1999.
Magistrate Mr Kwok Wai-kin adjourned the case to May 23, 2000 for mention. Chan was granted bail of $500 in cash while the remaining defendants were each allowed cash bail of $2,000.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption report alleging that a police officer had offered advantages to C&E officers for protection of a pirated VCD shop of which the police officer was a shareholder.
Investigations revealed that Szeto, Lam, Kwong, Kong and “ Ah Ben ” had allegedly paid Chan a daily wage of $200 to stand by in the shop. He was promised a further reward of $20,000 for acting as a “ scapegoat ” for arrest.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Christina Sin.
The defendants were : Chan Wai-kit 32, unemployed, Szeto Tat-kwong, 45, Lam Chi-wah, 29, Kwong Ming-yuet, 26 and Kong Shiu-king, 52, all operators of a shop known as Game World selling pirated VCDs.
They pleaded not guilty to one joint charge of conspiring with Cheung Ting-hong and a person known as "Ah Ben" to pervert the course of public justice.
The defendants were said to have falsely represented to the C&E that Chan Wai-kit was the operator of Game World situated in Yue Xiu Plaza, San Po Kong, between November 21, 1998 and August 13, 1999.
Magistrate Mr Kwok Wai-kin adjourned the case to May 23, 2000 for mention. Chan was granted bail of $500 in cash while the remaining defendants were each allowed cash bail of $2,000.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption report alleging that a police officer had offered advantages to C&E officers for protection of a pirated VCD shop of which the police officer was a shareholder.
Investigations revealed that Szeto, Lam, Kwong, Kong and “ Ah Ben ” had allegedly paid Chan a daily wage of $200 to stand by in the shop. He was promised a further reward of $20,000 for acting as a “ scapegoat ” for arrest.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Christina Sin.