10 arrested for 'smuggling scapegoat plot’
2000-3-18
The ICAC has arrested 10 people in an operation commencing on Thursday (March 16) for allegedly arranging a ‘'91 scapegoat ’ to claim ownership of five containers of smuggled projection television sets and admit charges laid by the Customs and Excise Department (C&E).
The ICAC earlier this year has launched a corruption investigation, which is still continuing.
During the investigation, five containers of smuggled goods - 347 projection television sets - were found on a vessel bound for the Mainland.
The seized goods were handed over to C&E. And a tourist agency ' s employee was subsequently charged in relation to the smuggling case. He has pleaded guilty in court and is awaiting sentence.
However ICAC continued inquiries revealed that the man who admitted guilt in court had allegedly been paid about $540,000 to stand in for prosecution.
Ten people were subsequently arrested in the ICAC operation codenamed “ Missile ” for their alleged involvement in the “ scapegoat ” plot.
The ICAC this morning has charged three of them with conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. They were brought to Eastern Court at about noon.
The three defendants are Lau Kam-wai, 46, Hui Yau-fun, 43, and Wong Siu-on, 34.
The defendants faced a joint charge of conspiring with others to pervert the course of public justice between January 20 and March 16, 2000 in relation to a C&E investigation concerning the attempted illegal export of unmanifested cargoes.
They were said to have allowed a person who was not involved in the smuggling activities to falsely admit the offence to C&E officers.
Magistrate Mr Colin Mackintosh adjourned the case to Monday (March 20) afternoon for mention. The defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The ICAC earlier this year has launched a corruption investigation, which is still continuing.
During the investigation, five containers of smuggled goods - 347 projection television sets - were found on a vessel bound for the Mainland.
The seized goods were handed over to C&E. And a tourist agency ' s employee was subsequently charged in relation to the smuggling case. He has pleaded guilty in court and is awaiting sentence.
However ICAC continued inquiries revealed that the man who admitted guilt in court had allegedly been paid about $540,000 to stand in for prosecution.
Ten people were subsequently arrested in the ICAC operation codenamed “ Missile ” for their alleged involvement in the “ scapegoat ” plot.
The ICAC this morning has charged three of them with conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. They were brought to Eastern Court at about noon.
The three defendants are Lau Kam-wai, 46, Hui Yau-fun, 43, and Wong Siu-on, 34.
The defendants faced a joint charge of conspiring with others to pervert the course of public justice between January 20 and March 16, 2000 in relation to a C&E investigation concerning the attempted illegal export of unmanifested cargoes.
They were said to have allowed a person who was not involved in the smuggling activities to falsely admit the offence to C&E officers.
Magistrate Mr Colin Mackintosh adjourned the case to Monday (March 20) afternoon for mention. The defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.