Jail sentences for five in TV smuggling 'scapegoat' case
2000-8-1
Five alleged members of a criminal syndicate were sentenced to jail terms ranging from one year to three years at District Court today (Tuesday) for conspiring to arrange for a "scapegoat" to face prosecution for smuggling 347 projection TV sets worth $1. 1 million into the Mainland.
Lau Kam-wai, 47, Hui Yau-fun, 43, both company partners; Wong Siu-on, 35, company proprietor; Ching Tsun, 27, shipping manager; and Ma Fai-ting, 44, company proprietor, were earlier convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Lau was further found guilty of one count of attempting to export unmanifested cargo.
Lau and his wife Hui were jailed for three years and one year respectively. Wong received a two-and-a-half-years' jail sentence while Ma was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for three years. Ching will be sentenced on September 18 this ye ar.
Judge Mary Yuen said jail sentences were handed down because the offences committed by the defendants were very serious. And the defendant who played a minor part in the plot was given a suspended term.
The court was told that between January 20 and March 16 this year, the five defendants had conspired together and with Li Kwun-lung, Wong Wah-shing and Wong Tsz-chun to pervert the course of public justice by agreeing to obstruct and frustrate an investig ation by the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) into the smuggling of 347 projection TV sets in five containers from Hong Kong into the Mainland.
They had arranged for a person uninvolved in the smuggling activities to present himself to C&E officers and to falsely admit his responsibility.
On January 20 this year, Lau had attempted to export the unmanifested TV sets on board a Chinese trading vessel off Tap Shek Kok in the Hong Kong waters.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Ian McWalters, assisted by ICAC officer Clement Cheng.
Lau Kam-wai, 47, Hui Yau-fun, 43, both company partners; Wong Siu-on, 35, company proprietor; Ching Tsun, 27, shipping manager; and Ma Fai-ting, 44, company proprietor, were earlier convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Lau was further found guilty of one count of attempting to export unmanifested cargo.
Lau and his wife Hui were jailed for three years and one year respectively. Wong received a two-and-a-half-years' jail sentence while Ma was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended for three years. Ching will be sentenced on September 18 this ye ar.
Judge Mary Yuen said jail sentences were handed down because the offences committed by the defendants were very serious. And the defendant who played a minor part in the plot was given a suspended term.
The court was told that between January 20 and March 16 this year, the five defendants had conspired together and with Li Kwun-lung, Wong Wah-shing and Wong Tsz-chun to pervert the course of public justice by agreeing to obstruct and frustrate an investig ation by the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) into the smuggling of 347 projection TV sets in five containers from Hong Kong into the Mainland.
They had arranged for a person uninvolved in the smuggling activities to present himself to C&E officers and to falsely admit his responsibility.
On January 20 this year, Lau had attempted to export the unmanifested TV sets on board a Chinese trading vessel off Tap Shek Kok in the Hong Kong waters.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Ian McWalters, assisted by ICAC officer Clement Cheng.