Policeman and three others guilty of VCD 'scapegoat' plot
2000-10-9
Four people, including a Police Constable, were convicted at San Po Kong Court today (Monday) of plotting to arrange a substitute to face prosecution by the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) for selling pirated VCDs.
The defendants were : Police Constable Kwong Shu-kuen, 32, and Szeto Tat-kwong, 45, Lam Chi-wah, 29, and Kwong Ming-yuet, 26. They operated a shop named Game World which sold pirated VCDs.
Magistrate Mr Poon Chin-chiu adjourned sentencing until October 25, 2000. The defendants were all remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
They were found guilty on one joint charge of conspiring with Hanly Chan Wai-kit, Kong Shiu-king and Cheung Ting-hong to pervert the course of public justice between November 21, 1998 and August 13, 1999.
They were said to have falsely represented to C&E officers that Chan Wai-kit was the operator of Game World at Yue Xiu Plaza, San Po Kong, when in fact he was a paid "scapegoat".
Chan Wai-kit and Kong Shiu-king earlier pleaded guilty to a similar conspiracy offence. Chan was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, while Kong is to be sentenced with the remaining defendants.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption complaint alleging that a police officer had offered advantages to C&E officers for protecting a pirated VCD shop in which the officer had shareholding. The corruption allegation against C& E officers was found to be unsubstantiated.
The court heard that shortly after the defendants set up Game World, Kwong Shu-kuen asked Chan Wai-kit to register as the owner of the shop.
The defendants also agreed to pay Chan Wai-kit a daily wage of $200 to stand by at the shop. He was promised a further reward of $20,000 for acting as a "scapegoat" for arrest.
On November 21, 1998, Kong was arrested during a C&E raid. Chan Wai-kit later surrendered himself, claiming that he was the shop owner.
The defendants subsequently gave Chan about $20,000 as a reward.
The prosecution was today represented by Emily Cheung on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Christina Sin.
The defendants were : Police Constable Kwong Shu-kuen, 32, and Szeto Tat-kwong, 45, Lam Chi-wah, 29, and Kwong Ming-yuet, 26. They operated a shop named Game World which sold pirated VCDs.
Magistrate Mr Poon Chin-chiu adjourned sentencing until October 25, 2000. The defendants were all remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
They were found guilty on one joint charge of conspiring with Hanly Chan Wai-kit, Kong Shiu-king and Cheung Ting-hong to pervert the course of public justice between November 21, 1998 and August 13, 1999.
They were said to have falsely represented to C&E officers that Chan Wai-kit was the operator of Game World at Yue Xiu Plaza, San Po Kong, when in fact he was a paid "scapegoat".
Chan Wai-kit and Kong Shiu-king earlier pleaded guilty to a similar conspiracy offence. Chan was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, while Kong is to be sentenced with the remaining defendants.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption complaint alleging that a police officer had offered advantages to C&E officers for protecting a pirated VCD shop in which the officer had shareholding. The corruption allegation against C& E officers was found to be unsubstantiated.
The court heard that shortly after the defendants set up Game World, Kwong Shu-kuen asked Chan Wai-kit to register as the owner of the shop.
The defendants also agreed to pay Chan Wai-kit a daily wage of $200 to stand by at the shop. He was promised a further reward of $20,000 for acting as a "scapegoat" for arrest.
On November 21, 1998, Kong was arrested during a C&E raid. Chan Wai-kit later surrendered himself, claiming that he was the shop owner.
The defendants subsequently gave Chan about $20,000 as a reward.
The prosecution was today represented by Emily Cheung on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Christina Sin.