Fifteen months' jail for Senior Police Superintendent in illegal bookmaking case
2001-5-24
A Senior Superintendent of Police and two businessmen, arrested in an ICAC operation in June last year while operating off-course betting for a horse race at a Homantin premises, were given prison terms at District Court today (Thursday).
Chu Kam-yiu, 53, Senior Superintendent, Addy Chow Chi-wang, 49 and Hon Pui-tak, 61, both merchants, were each sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, after being found guilty on one count of conspiracy to engage in bookmaking between February 26 and June 21 , 2000.
Hon Pui-tak was further convicted of one count of using the premises at Man Wan Road, Homantin, as a gambling establishment on June 21 last year. He was given nine months for this charge, which was to run concurrently with the 15-month jail term for the conspiracy offence.
In sentencing, Judge Wong said illegal booking was a social evil that needed to be eradicated, as it not only diminished government income, but also upset the subsidies that charitable organizations received from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
The judge noted that the offences committed by the defendants were far too serious for him to impose community service orders.
The case arose from an ICAC investigation into corruption allegations that some police officers were protecting illegal bookmaking activities. The defendants were arrested in a territory-wide operation in June last year.
The court heard that surveillance by the ICAC showed that on various occasions between September 29, 1999 and June 21 last year, Chu and Chow went to Hon's premises at Man Wan Road in Homantin during horse race meetings.
On the evening of June 21 last year, whilst a local horse race meeting was in progress, ICAC officers raided the premises.
As ICAC officers broke in, they saw Chu and Chow hurriedly throwing papers out from the balcony. The incident was recorded by ICAC officers in the neighbourhood, and the papers were recovered on the ground floor of the building.
Inside the premises, ICAC officers seized a mini-compact disc recorder containing a disc. The conversations recovered from the disc included the betting records of Chow through a HKJC telebet account
A police gambling expert told the court that he was of the view that the taped conversations were related to bookmaking activities.
The expert also told the court that he believed the papers thrown out from Hon's premises during the ICAC raid were related to bookmaking activities.
During a search at the Senior Superintendent's office and residence, ICAC officers uncovered racing booklets and papers similar to those found at Hon's premises.
Meanwhile, the ICAC investigation into the corruption allegation is continuing.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Lo Cheuk-wa.
Chu Kam-yiu, 53, Senior Superintendent, Addy Chow Chi-wang, 49 and Hon Pui-tak, 61, both merchants, were each sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, after being found guilty on one count of conspiracy to engage in bookmaking between February 26 and June 21 , 2000.
Hon Pui-tak was further convicted of one count of using the premises at Man Wan Road, Homantin, as a gambling establishment on June 21 last year. He was given nine months for this charge, which was to run concurrently with the 15-month jail term for the conspiracy offence.
In sentencing, Judge Wong said illegal booking was a social evil that needed to be eradicated, as it not only diminished government income, but also upset the subsidies that charitable organizations received from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
The judge noted that the offences committed by the defendants were far too serious for him to impose community service orders.
The case arose from an ICAC investigation into corruption allegations that some police officers were protecting illegal bookmaking activities. The defendants were arrested in a territory-wide operation in June last year.
The court heard that surveillance by the ICAC showed that on various occasions between September 29, 1999 and June 21 last year, Chu and Chow went to Hon's premises at Man Wan Road in Homantin during horse race meetings.
On the evening of June 21 last year, whilst a local horse race meeting was in progress, ICAC officers raided the premises.
As ICAC officers broke in, they saw Chu and Chow hurriedly throwing papers out from the balcony. The incident was recorded by ICAC officers in the neighbourhood, and the papers were recovered on the ground floor of the building.
Inside the premises, ICAC officers seized a mini-compact disc recorder containing a disc. The conversations recovered from the disc included the betting records of Chow through a HKJC telebet account
A police gambling expert told the court that he was of the view that the taped conversations were related to bookmaking activities.
The expert also told the court that he believed the papers thrown out from Hon's premises during the ICAC raid were related to bookmaking activities.
During a search at the Senior Superintendent's office and residence, ICAC officers uncovered racing booklets and papers similar to those found at Hon's premises.
Meanwhile, the ICAC investigation into the corruption allegation is continuing.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Lo Cheuk-wa.