Ten months' jail for restauranteurs offering 'protection fees' to Police Sergeant
2001-12-4
Two shareholders of a Japanese restaurant were today (Tuesday) each jailed for 10 months at District Court for offering monthly bribe payments totalling about $125,000 to a Police Sergeant.
The defendants believed that the officer could protect the restaurant from interference by triad gangsters.
Yuen Lam, 37, and Wong Kwok-hing, 39, of Ichimoto Japanese Restaurant (Ichimoto) in Hunghom, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to offer periodic payments to Police Sergeant Ku Ying-lai.
In sentencing, Judge Yau said corruption offences must be severely dealt with in Hong Kong, so that the territory's reputation would not be tarnished.
The judge said the 18-month starting point for the sentences was reduced to 10 months, having taken into account of the defendants' clear records and guilty pleas.
The court heard that shortly after the defendants started their business in mid 1996, Ku visited the restaurant and demanded a monthly "travelling expenses" of $5,000.
Believing that Ku could offer assistance in case the triads caused nuisance to the restaurant, the defendants agreed to pay the monthly bribe payments from August 1996.
Due to poor business, the bribe payments were later reduced to $3,000 per month in February 1997, and subsequently to $2,000 per month between December 1998 and March 2000.
Lam Kwun-man, another shareholder of Ichimoto, 29, earlier pleaded guilty at Tsuen Wan Court to eight counts of offering monthly "protection fees" totalling $16,000 to Ku. He will be sentenced on December 17, 2001.
The prosecution was today represented by Patrick Lim on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Christina Sin.
Meanwhile, the ICAC today charged a Police Sergeant for allegedly obtaining two unauthorised loans totalling $27,000.
Chong Pui-sun, 44, attached to Sheung Shui Police Station, will appear in Tuen Mun Court at 9:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday) on two counts of accepting an advantage under Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one deception offence.
Two of the charges allege that Chong accepted two loans totalling $27,000 from Leung Mei-chu, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, in April 2001.
Chong is also alleged to have evaded his liability to make payment for the loans by issuing a dishonoured cheque in June 2001.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance tomorrow.
The defendants believed that the officer could protect the restaurant from interference by triad gangsters.
Yuen Lam, 37, and Wong Kwok-hing, 39, of Ichimoto Japanese Restaurant (Ichimoto) in Hunghom, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to offer periodic payments to Police Sergeant Ku Ying-lai.
In sentencing, Judge Yau said corruption offences must be severely dealt with in Hong Kong, so that the territory's reputation would not be tarnished.
The judge said the 18-month starting point for the sentences was reduced to 10 months, having taken into account of the defendants' clear records and guilty pleas.
The court heard that shortly after the defendants started their business in mid 1996, Ku visited the restaurant and demanded a monthly "travelling expenses" of $5,000.
Believing that Ku could offer assistance in case the triads caused nuisance to the restaurant, the defendants agreed to pay the monthly bribe payments from August 1996.
Due to poor business, the bribe payments were later reduced to $3,000 per month in February 1997, and subsequently to $2,000 per month between December 1998 and March 2000.
Lam Kwun-man, another shareholder of Ichimoto, 29, earlier pleaded guilty at Tsuen Wan Court to eight counts of offering monthly "protection fees" totalling $16,000 to Ku. He will be sentenced on December 17, 2001.
The prosecution was today represented by Patrick Lim on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Christina Sin.
Meanwhile, the ICAC today charged a Police Sergeant for allegedly obtaining two unauthorised loans totalling $27,000.
Chong Pui-sun, 44, attached to Sheung Shui Police Station, will appear in Tuen Mun Court at 9:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday) on two counts of accepting an advantage under Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one deception offence.
Two of the charges allege that Chong accepted two loans totalling $27,000 from Leung Mei-chu, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, in April 2001.
Chong is also alleged to have evaded his liability to make payment for the loans by issuing a dishonoured cheque in June 2001.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance tomorrow.