12 hawkers charged for alleged perversion over 'staged arrest'
2001-10-5
Twelve hawkers, earlier arrested for their alleged involvement in the "staged" arrests of hawkers at Yan Oi Court in Kwun Tong, have been charged by the ICAC.
The case arose from a referral from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, which suspected that some Hawker Control Grade officers might have accepted bribes from hawkers at Yan Oi Court for allowing "staged arrests" and not taking proper enforcem ent action.
It was alleged that hawkers had been allowed to take turns to offer themselves for arrest according to an agreed "duty roster".
The hawkers, charged today and yesterday, will appear at 9:30 am in Kwun Tong Court next Monday (October 8) .
They are Tai Siu-chuen (62), Chan Soong-nam (61), Chan Wai-chun (67), Chan Yuet-so (68), Ho Ping-yau (57), Li Ping (66), Li Tzi-chiu (60), Siu Ng (69), Wan Ying-sung (66), Yau Man (58), Yung Kwok-ming (62), and Chu Yin-ming (43).
The charge alleges that between May 1, 1997 and March 31, 1999, the defendants had conspired together with other hawkers and persons to pervert the course of public justice.
They had allegedly agreed to falsely represent to Hawker Control Grade officers of the then Urban Services Department and Courts in Hong Kong that certain hawkers had in the course of their trades caused obstruction to public places with their hawker barr ows.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Monday.
In connection with the same investigation, 19 Hawker Control Grade officers, who were attached to the Kwun Tong District Hawkers Section of the then Urban Services Department, were earlier charged by the ICAC.
They pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice when appearing at District Court today (Friday).
Judge Fung adjourned the case until November 9 for mention. The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000. They were ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and to report to the Police once every two weeks.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Winston Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Patrick Tang.
The case arose from a referral from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, which suspected that some Hawker Control Grade officers might have accepted bribes from hawkers at Yan Oi Court for allowing "staged arrests" and not taking proper enforcem ent action.
It was alleged that hawkers had been allowed to take turns to offer themselves for arrest according to an agreed "duty roster".
The hawkers, charged today and yesterday, will appear at 9:30 am in Kwun Tong Court next Monday (October 8) .
They are Tai Siu-chuen (62), Chan Soong-nam (61), Chan Wai-chun (67), Chan Yuet-so (68), Ho Ping-yau (57), Li Ping (66), Li Tzi-chiu (60), Siu Ng (69), Wan Ying-sung (66), Yau Man (58), Yung Kwok-ming (62), and Chu Yin-ming (43).
The charge alleges that between May 1, 1997 and March 31, 1999, the defendants had conspired together with other hawkers and persons to pervert the course of public justice.
They had allegedly agreed to falsely represent to Hawker Control Grade officers of the then Urban Services Department and Courts in Hong Kong that certain hawkers had in the course of their trades caused obstruction to public places with their hawker barr ows.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Monday.
In connection with the same investigation, 19 Hawker Control Grade officers, who were attached to the Kwun Tong District Hawkers Section of the then Urban Services Department, were earlier charged by the ICAC.
They pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice when appearing at District Court today (Friday).
Judge Fung adjourned the case until November 9 for mention. The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000. They were ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and to report to the Police once every two weeks.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Winston Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Patrick Tang.