An unemployed man, who acted as a middleman to offer $150,000 to a prosecution witness for changing his evidence in a drug trial at the High Court, was jailed for 16 months at the District Court today (Monday).

Cheng Ka-po, 27, charged by the ICAC, pleaded guilty before Judge Davies today to one count of doing an act tending to pervert the course of public justice on November 10 last year.

Cheng was said to have offered Ng Shek-yu $150,000, on behalf of Yau Heung-tong, for Ng to change the evidence which he intended to give against Yau so as to favour Yau.

In sentencing, the judge said the defendant had committed a serious offence.

The court heard that Yau was charged by the ICAC for alleged drug offences and was scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary inquiry on November 20 last year, when prison inmate Ng was due to testify for the prosecution.

In early November last year, Yau approached Cheng and asked him to persuade Ng not to give truthful evidence in court. Yau told Cheng that he would give Ng $150,000 as a reward and undertook to employ a lawyer for Ng to appeal against his current sentenc e.

Yau promised Cheng $50,000 as a reward for the arrangement, and gave him $1,000 as partial payment.

On November 10, 2000, Cheng related Yau's message to Ng during his visit to the prison. Ng did not respond to his request.

Yau failed to appear in court on November 20 last year as scheduled. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Virginia Lau, assisted by ICAC officer James Ip.