Businessman found guilty of 'scapegoat' plot in traffic accident
2001-5-12
A businessman, charged by the ICAC for allegedly acting as a "scapegoat" to face Police prosecution for traffic offences following a traffic accident, was found guilty at San Po Kong Court today (Saturday).
Lo Woon-kit, 30, was today convicted of one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Magistrate Ms Tracy Chan said the defendant was convicted since evidence provided by ICAC officers was reliable.
Lo was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and fined $10,000.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said the defendant had committed a serious offence, however, a suspended jail sentence was imposed in view of his good background and clear record.
The court heard that in the early morning of September 22 last year, Lo's friend Yeung Ping-chung lost control of his car and crashed into a preceding vehicle, which in turn bumped into a taxi at the junction of Nathan Road and Jordan Road.
Yeung requested Lo, who was sitting next to him in the car, to falsely claim to be the driver.
Lo acceded to his request although he did not possess a valid driving licence.
When traffic policemen arrived at the scene, Lo pretended to be the driver, and took the breathing test and passed.
Both Lo and Yeung were subsequently arrested by the Police.
Lo was charged with one count of careless driving and one count of driving without a driving licence, while Yeung faced one count of permitting a vehicle to be driven by a person without a driving licence.
Both of them were also charged with using a vehicle without third party insurance.
On October 19 last year, Lo pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined $5,000. Yeung pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution subsequently offered no evidence against him.
After the court proceedings, Lo and Yeung were arrested by ICAC officers who were investigating a corruption allegation that some police officers might have corruptly assisted Lo and Yeung in escaping prosecution for traffic offences.
ICAC enquiries revealed the perversion offence, while the original corruption allegation was not substantiated.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Jackson Wong.
Lo Woon-kit, 30, was today convicted of one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Magistrate Ms Tracy Chan said the defendant was convicted since evidence provided by ICAC officers was reliable.
Lo was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and fined $10,000.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said the defendant had committed a serious offence, however, a suspended jail sentence was imposed in view of his good background and clear record.
The court heard that in the early morning of September 22 last year, Lo's friend Yeung Ping-chung lost control of his car and crashed into a preceding vehicle, which in turn bumped into a taxi at the junction of Nathan Road and Jordan Road.
Yeung requested Lo, who was sitting next to him in the car, to falsely claim to be the driver.
Lo acceded to his request although he did not possess a valid driving licence.
When traffic policemen arrived at the scene, Lo pretended to be the driver, and took the breathing test and passed.
Both Lo and Yeung were subsequently arrested by the Police.
Lo was charged with one count of careless driving and one count of driving without a driving licence, while Yeung faced one count of permitting a vehicle to be driven by a person without a driving licence.
Both of them were also charged with using a vehicle without third party insurance.
On October 19 last year, Lo pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined $5,000. Yeung pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution subsequently offered no evidence against him.
After the court proceedings, Lo and Yeung were arrested by ICAC officers who were investigating a corruption allegation that some police officers might have corruptly assisted Lo and Yeung in escaping prosecution for traffic offences.
ICAC enquiries revealed the perversion offence, while the original corruption allegation was not substantiated.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Jackson Wong.