Man admits VCD 'scapegoat’ plot
2000-6-21
A man admitted at Fanling Court today (Wednesday) that he had stood in as a “ scapegoat ” for an alleged pirated VCD distributor to face prosecution by the Police for copyright offences.
Yip Chi-wai, 23, casual worker, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Chow Hau-man and Chan Wing-hong to pervert the course of public justice between November 2 and November 16, 1998.
The court was told that Yip had falsely represented to the Police that he was the owner of 52,048 pirated compact discs, found by the Police in a property in Tong Sheung Tsuen, Tai Po, on November 3, 1998.
Chow, the alleged owner of the pirated VCDs, today pleaded not guilty to two conspiracy charges and one copyright offence.
Magistrate Mr David Duggan adjourned Chow ' s case to September 27, 2000 for trial, and deferred the sentencing of Yip until Chow ' s case is completed.
The ICAC earlier received a corruption report alleging that some Police officers might have accepted advantages to assist the arrangement of “ scapegoat ” in a raid against a pirated VCD warehouse, and commenced investigations.
The court heard that on November 3, 1998, Chow was present in a property in Tong Sheung Tsuen, Tai Po.
When he was interviewed by Police officers who were then patrolling in the vicinity, Chow allegedly claimed that he was the tenant of the premises, which he had sub-let to another person.
On searching the premises, the Police officers found 52,048 pirated VCDs and 180 litres of preparations containing hydrocarbons. Chow was arrested and brought to the Tai Po Police Station.
Before a cautioned statement was taken by the Police, Chow allegedly called a man by the name of Chan Wing-hong, who agreed to arrange a “ scapegoat ” for Chow to face prosecution.
Chan then approached Yip, who agreed to substitute Chow. Chan also gave Yip $20,000 as bail money.
Yip surrendered himself to the Tai Po Police Station, claiming that he was the sub-tenant of the said premises and that he possessed the pirated VCDs.
About one week later, Chow arranged Yip to sign a sub-tenancy agreement for the premises.
Yip was subsequently charged by the Police with a copyright offence.
Yip and Chow were today respectively granted bail of $10,000 and $20,000 in cash.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Council David Leung, assisted by ICAC officer Yeung Sai-tak.
Yip Chi-wai, 23, casual worker, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Chow Hau-man and Chan Wing-hong to pervert the course of public justice between November 2 and November 16, 1998.
The court was told that Yip had falsely represented to the Police that he was the owner of 52,048 pirated compact discs, found by the Police in a property in Tong Sheung Tsuen, Tai Po, on November 3, 1998.
Chow, the alleged owner of the pirated VCDs, today pleaded not guilty to two conspiracy charges and one copyright offence.
Magistrate Mr David Duggan adjourned Chow ' s case to September 27, 2000 for trial, and deferred the sentencing of Yip until Chow ' s case is completed.
The ICAC earlier received a corruption report alleging that some Police officers might have accepted advantages to assist the arrangement of “ scapegoat ” in a raid against a pirated VCD warehouse, and commenced investigations.
The court heard that on November 3, 1998, Chow was present in a property in Tong Sheung Tsuen, Tai Po.
When he was interviewed by Police officers who were then patrolling in the vicinity, Chow allegedly claimed that he was the tenant of the premises, which he had sub-let to another person.
On searching the premises, the Police officers found 52,048 pirated VCDs and 180 litres of preparations containing hydrocarbons. Chow was arrested and brought to the Tai Po Police Station.
Before a cautioned statement was taken by the Police, Chow allegedly called a man by the name of Chan Wing-hong, who agreed to arrange a “ scapegoat ” for Chow to face prosecution.
Chan then approached Yip, who agreed to substitute Chow. Chan also gave Yip $20,000 as bail money.
Yip surrendered himself to the Tai Po Police Station, claiming that he was the sub-tenant of the said premises and that he possessed the pirated VCDs.
About one week later, Chow arranged Yip to sign a sub-tenancy agreement for the premises.
Yip was subsequently charged by the Police with a copyright offence.
Yip and Chow were today respectively granted bail of $10,000 and $20,000 in cash.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Council David Leung, assisted by ICAC officer Yeung Sai-tak.