Three months for newspaper vendor arranging 'scapegoat'
2000-9-5
An unlicenced newspaper stall operator was sentenced to three months' imprisonment at Eastern Court today (Tuesday) for arranging a "scapegoat" to face prosecution by the then Urban Services Department (USD) and admit obstruction offence in court.
Lee Ying-mei, 60, admitted one count of conspiring with Leung Lan to pervert the course of public justice between July 30, 1998 and April 19, 1999.
The court heard that Lee, while operating her stall at Tin Lok Lane in Wanchai, had been approached by Hawker Control Officers conducting anti-hawking raids on a number of occasions. She asked Leung Lan to "substitute" her for the arrests.
The court was also told that the Hawker Control Officers at the scene had allegedly agreed to the arrangement.
Leung subsequently pleaded guilty and was fined by the court. The bail money and the fine was paid by the defendant, who also gave Leung about $100 as "travelling expenses".
Meanwhile, two fruit stall operators, charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in similar "scapegoat" plots, appeared in Eastern Court today in separate cases.
Leung Sui-kau, 49 and Liu King-chuk, 57, pleaded not guilty respectively to three counts and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Leung was said to have conspired with Leung Lan and Ling Ngan-foon in alleged "scapegoat" plots at Canal Road West, Wanchai between March 1996 and March 1999, while Liu allegedly committed similar offences at Tang Lung Street and Canal Road East, Causeway Bay between November 1997 and April 1999.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned these two cases to September 19, 2000 for pre-trial review. The defendants were each granted bail of $5,000 cash, and were ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eric Ma Shun-fat.
Lee Ying-mei, 60, admitted one count of conspiring with Leung Lan to pervert the course of public justice between July 30, 1998 and April 19, 1999.
The court heard that Lee, while operating her stall at Tin Lok Lane in Wanchai, had been approached by Hawker Control Officers conducting anti-hawking raids on a number of occasions. She asked Leung Lan to "substitute" her for the arrests.
The court was also told that the Hawker Control Officers at the scene had allegedly agreed to the arrangement.
Leung subsequently pleaded guilty and was fined by the court. The bail money and the fine was paid by the defendant, who also gave Leung about $100 as "travelling expenses".
Meanwhile, two fruit stall operators, charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in similar "scapegoat" plots, appeared in Eastern Court today in separate cases.
Leung Sui-kau, 49 and Liu King-chuk, 57, pleaded not guilty respectively to three counts and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Leung was said to have conspired with Leung Lan and Ling Ngan-foon in alleged "scapegoat" plots at Canal Road West, Wanchai between March 1996 and March 1999, while Liu allegedly committed similar offences at Tang Lung Street and Canal Road East, Causeway Bay between November 1997 and April 1999.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned these two cases to September 19, 2000 for pre-trial review. The defendants were each granted bail of $5,000 cash, and were ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eric Ma Shun-fat.