Suspended sentence for woman 'thanking' judge with cigarettes and money
2000-7-10
A woman who “thanked” a District Court judge with cognac, cigarettes and $10,000 cash for granting her the custody of her three children, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for one year.
Kwok Lai-ying, 48, housewife, was found guilty at Eastern Court today (Monday) on one count of offering an advantage to District Court Deputy Judge Stephen John Geiser on December 2, 1999, contrary to Section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Lambert Lee said he had taken into consideration the defendant’s background in sentencing.
The court heard that in December 1997, Kwok came to Hong Kong from the Mainland with her 15-year-old son to join her husband and two other children. She filed an application for divorce in May 1998.
On November 22, 1999, Deputy Judge Geiser ruled in favour of Kwok, the plaintiff in the judicial proceedings with regard to the custody of her three children.
On December 2, 1999, Kwok rushed into the deputy judge's office and left a carrier bag and two rolls of banknotes on his desk, and dashed out. The judge, together with an office assistant, tried to stop the defendant, but to no avail.
The carrier bag was found to contain six cartons of cigarettes, three bottles of cognac and $10,000 cash.
The judge did not accept the cash and the gifts, and referred the matter to the ICAC.
An ICAC spokesman reminded the public that it is against the law to offer an advantage to an agent as an inducement to or reward for him / her to perform an act in relation to his / her principal's business.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Maggie Yang, assisted by ICAC officer Shirley Cheung.
Kwok Lai-ying, 48, housewife, was found guilty at Eastern Court today (Monday) on one count of offering an advantage to District Court Deputy Judge Stephen John Geiser on December 2, 1999, contrary to Section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Lambert Lee said he had taken into consideration the defendant’s background in sentencing.
The court heard that in December 1997, Kwok came to Hong Kong from the Mainland with her 15-year-old son to join her husband and two other children. She filed an application for divorce in May 1998.
On November 22, 1999, Deputy Judge Geiser ruled in favour of Kwok, the plaintiff in the judicial proceedings with regard to the custody of her three children.
On December 2, 1999, Kwok rushed into the deputy judge's office and left a carrier bag and two rolls of banknotes on his desk, and dashed out. The judge, together with an office assistant, tried to stop the defendant, but to no avail.
The carrier bag was found to contain six cartons of cigarettes, three bottles of cognac and $10,000 cash.
The judge did not accept the cash and the gifts, and referred the matter to the ICAC.
An ICAC spokesman reminded the public that it is against the law to offer an advantage to an agent as an inducement to or reward for him / her to perform an act in relation to his / her principal's business.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Maggie Yang, assisted by ICAC officer Shirley Cheung.