Suspended jail term for fabricating rural election corruption complaint
2000-4-11
A village representative was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, at Tsuen Wan Court today (Tuesday) for making a malicious report falsely alleging the Tsuen Wan Rural Committee Chairman of vote buying.
Magistrate Mr Anthony Yuen also fined the defendant $300.
Chan Lan-fong, Paul, 56, today admitted one count of making a false report to the ICAC, alleging that Chung Wai-ping had offered him and other Tsuen Wan village representatives free trips to Thailand and Nanjing, for voting Chung in the Tsuen Wan Rural Co mmittee election held on March 27, 1999.
In sentencing, the magistrate said the offence committed by the defendant was serious as he had not only tarnished the victim's reputation, but also upset the electoral system.
Chan is an indigenous villager of Sham Tung Uk Village in Tsuen Wan, while the victim, Chung Wai-ping, is the elected chairman of the Tsuen Wan Rural Committee (TWRC).
The court heard that on August 25, 1999, Chan made a complaint to the ICAC alleging bribery in the TWRC election.
When interviewed by ICAC officers, Chan claimed that between January and March 1999, Chung had offered him free trips to Thailand and Nanjing for voting him in the TWRC election.
Chan told ICAC investigators that though he did not accept the offer, a few other village representatives who were eligible voters in the election did.
Chan also promised to produce relevant documents and a witness to assist in the ICAC investigation. However, despite numerous contacts by ICAC officers between September 1999 and February 2000, Chan failed to render such information.
The ICAC later lost touch with Chan. Investigations showed that the address he reported to the ICAC was false.
Immigration Department records also revealed that all the persons accused of accepting free trips had not travelled to Thailand or Nanjing during the alleged period.
Investigations also confirmed that Chung had not offered any free trips to the voters concerned.
When interviewed by ICAC officers again on March 2, 2000, Chan admitted under caution that he had fabricated the complaint.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Chan Kwok-cham.
Magistrate Mr Anthony Yuen also fined the defendant $300.
Chan Lan-fong, Paul, 56, today admitted one count of making a false report to the ICAC, alleging that Chung Wai-ping had offered him and other Tsuen Wan village representatives free trips to Thailand and Nanjing, for voting Chung in the Tsuen Wan Rural Co mmittee election held on March 27, 1999.
In sentencing, the magistrate said the offence committed by the defendant was serious as he had not only tarnished the victim's reputation, but also upset the electoral system.
Chan is an indigenous villager of Sham Tung Uk Village in Tsuen Wan, while the victim, Chung Wai-ping, is the elected chairman of the Tsuen Wan Rural Committee (TWRC).
The court heard that on August 25, 1999, Chan made a complaint to the ICAC alleging bribery in the TWRC election.
When interviewed by ICAC officers, Chan claimed that between January and March 1999, Chung had offered him free trips to Thailand and Nanjing for voting him in the TWRC election.
Chan told ICAC investigators that though he did not accept the offer, a few other village representatives who were eligible voters in the election did.
Chan also promised to produce relevant documents and a witness to assist in the ICAC investigation. However, despite numerous contacts by ICAC officers between September 1999 and February 2000, Chan failed to render such information.
The ICAC later lost touch with Chan. Investigations showed that the address he reported to the ICAC was false.
Immigration Department records also revealed that all the persons accused of accepting free trips had not travelled to Thailand or Nanjing during the alleged period.
Investigations also confirmed that Chung had not offered any free trips to the voters concerned.
When interviewed by ICAC officers again on March 2, 2000, Chan admitted under caution that he had fabricated the complaint.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Chan Kwok-cham.