Five years' jail for Ewan Launder
2000-4-7
Former chief executive of Wardley Limited Ewan Quayle Launder was jailed for five years at the Court of First Instance today (Friday) for accepting a $4.5 million bribe from George Tan Soon-gin who then controlled the now defunct Carrian Group.
Launder, 64, was also ordered to pay $4.5 million in restitution within three months.
In sentencing, Mr Justice Gareth Lugar-Mawson said as one of the leading bankers in the 1980s, Launder had committed a serious corruption offence that warranted a custodial sentence.
The judge said the case had demonstrated to the people of Hong Kong and the world that corruption would be investigated, prosecuted and seriously punished.
While paying tribute to the ICAC, the judge said it was fortunate for Hong Kong to have such "fine and dedicated officers" in fighting corruption.
Launder was earlier found guilty by a jury of one count of having accepted or agreed to accept HK$4.5 million from Tan, on or about October 11, 1980, in return for showing favour to Carrian Holdings Limited or Carrian Investments Limited or other companie s controlled by Tan in relation to his principal's business.
Launder was arrested in the United Kingdom in September 1993 by the New Scotland Yard's Extradition Squad officers on ICAC's behalf. Following protracted extradition proceedings, the House of Lords, on April 7, 1998, rejected his latest application to av oid extradition. He surrendered himself to the UK authorities on April 17 the same year.
Launder was extradited to Hong Kong from the UK on April 18, 1998. It was the first successful extradition case of the ICAC after the unification.
"The sentencing of Launder, the last defendant in connection with the Carrian case, signifies the conclusion of a 17-year saga and the ICAC's relentless and persistent efforts to pursue the corrupt," an ICAC spokesman said.
"Prior to his arrest, Launder's whereabouts had been sought by the ICAC following extensive investigation over a period of six years and spanning three continents," the spokesman said.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Ian MaWalters and Senior Government Counsel Gavin Shiu appeared for the prosecution today, assisted by ICAC officers Jonathan Ho and Vivian Lee.
Launder, 64, was also ordered to pay $4.5 million in restitution within three months.
In sentencing, Mr Justice Gareth Lugar-Mawson said as one of the leading bankers in the 1980s, Launder had committed a serious corruption offence that warranted a custodial sentence.
The judge said the case had demonstrated to the people of Hong Kong and the world that corruption would be investigated, prosecuted and seriously punished.
While paying tribute to the ICAC, the judge said it was fortunate for Hong Kong to have such "fine and dedicated officers" in fighting corruption.
Launder was earlier found guilty by a jury of one count of having accepted or agreed to accept HK$4.5 million from Tan, on or about October 11, 1980, in return for showing favour to Carrian Holdings Limited or Carrian Investments Limited or other companie s controlled by Tan in relation to his principal's business.
Launder was arrested in the United Kingdom in September 1993 by the New Scotland Yard's Extradition Squad officers on ICAC's behalf. Following protracted extradition proceedings, the House of Lords, on April 7, 1998, rejected his latest application to av oid extradition. He surrendered himself to the UK authorities on April 17 the same year.
Launder was extradited to Hong Kong from the UK on April 18, 1998. It was the first successful extradition case of the ICAC after the unification.
"The sentencing of Launder, the last defendant in connection with the Carrian case, signifies the conclusion of a 17-year saga and the ICAC's relentless and persistent efforts to pursue the corrupt," an ICAC spokesman said.
"Prior to his arrest, Launder's whereabouts had been sought by the ICAC following extensive investigation over a period of six years and spanning three continents," the spokesman said.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Ian MaWalters and Senior Government Counsel Gavin Shiu appeared for the prosecution today, assisted by ICAC officers Jonathan Ho and Vivian Lee.