Court of Appeal rejects Launder's application for certificate to appeal to CFA
2001-5-8
The Court of Appeal today (Tuesday) rejected former chief executive of Wardley Limited Ewan Quayle Launder's application for a certificate to further appeal to the Court of Final Appeal (CFA).
Launder, 65, was found guilty in April last year by a jury at the Court of First Instance of accepting a $4.5 million bribe from former boss of the now defunct Carrian Group George Tan Soon-gin, and is serving a five-year jail sentence.
He was also ordered to pay $4.5 million in restitution.
In March this year, Launder launched an appeal to the Court of Appeal against his conviction.
Subsequently the Court of Appeal dismissed all the nine grounds of appeal raised by the appellant.
Launder then made an application for a certificate to further appeal to the CFA against his conviction.
His application was today heard at the Court of Appeal before Vice-President Mr Justice Stuart-Moore, Vice-President Mr Justice Mayo and Mr Justice Seagroatt.
Launder was the last defendant in connection with the 15-year Carrian saga.
Launder was arrested in the United Kingdom in September 1993 by the New Scotland Yard's Extradition Squad officers on ICAC's behalf.
Following protracted extradition proceedings, the House of Lords, on April 7, 1998, rejected his latest application to avoid extradition. He surrendered himself to the UK authorities on April 17 the same year, and was extradited to Hong Kong from the UK the following day.
Prior to his arrest, Launder's whereabouts had been sought by the ICAC following extensive investigation over a period of six years and spanning three continents.
Launder, 65, was found guilty in April last year by a jury at the Court of First Instance of accepting a $4.5 million bribe from former boss of the now defunct Carrian Group George Tan Soon-gin, and is serving a five-year jail sentence.
He was also ordered to pay $4.5 million in restitution.
In March this year, Launder launched an appeal to the Court of Appeal against his conviction.
Subsequently the Court of Appeal dismissed all the nine grounds of appeal raised by the appellant.
Launder then made an application for a certificate to further appeal to the CFA against his conviction.
His application was today heard at the Court of Appeal before Vice-President Mr Justice Stuart-Moore, Vice-President Mr Justice Mayo and Mr Justice Seagroatt.
Launder was the last defendant in connection with the 15-year Carrian saga.
Launder was arrested in the United Kingdom in September 1993 by the New Scotland Yard's Extradition Squad officers on ICAC's behalf.
Following protracted extradition proceedings, the House of Lords, on April 7, 1998, rejected his latest application to avoid extradition. He surrendered himself to the UK authorities on April 17 the same year, and was extradited to Hong Kong from the UK the following day.
Prior to his arrest, Launder's whereabouts had been sought by the ICAC following extensive investigation over a period of six years and spanning three continents.