A former pharmaceutical product salesman admitted at District Court today (Friday) that he had demanded $300,000 to help a debt collector secure acquittal in a criminal case, falsely claiming that he had the support of a very senior official in the Depart ment of Justice.

Lau Kam-keung, 48, now unemployed, pleaded guilty to one count of deception offence. The court ordered the blackmail charge against Lau to be left on the court file.

Judge Maggie Poon adjourned sentencing until September 18 this year, and remanded Lau in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.

The court was told that between July 20 and November 14 last year, Lau used the pseudonym of Mr Ma, solicited $300,000 from Ng Siu-kei, a debt collector, on a number of telephone conversations.

The bribe was a reward for securing Ng's acquittal of an offence of criminal intimidation in a Police case, for which he was to face trial.

Lau falsely represented to Ng that he had the backing of a very senior official in the Department of Justice.

Ng requested Lau to reduce the sum demanded, but the request was refused.

Subsequently, Lau provided Ng with a bank account in the name of Leung Oi-sie with the Bank of China in Guangzhou, and instructed Ng to deposit $150,000 into the account But Ng refused to pay.

On November 16 last year, Ng was convicted of the criminal intimidation offence and fined $3,000.

The court was also told that as a result of this case, a new measure had been introduced in the Mainland since April 1 this year, requiring identification proof in opening a bank account.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Kevin Zervos, assisted by ICAC officer Herman Chan.