Artiste and Police Constable sentenced for perverting justice over traffic accident
2002-10-16
An artiste and a Police Constable were today (Wednesday) sentenced at Western Magistracy for their roles in perverting the course of public justice in relation to a traffic accident.
Nicholas Tse, 22, artiste of Emperor Entertainment Group Limited (EEG), was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service, while co-conspirator Lau Chi-wai, 28, Police Constable, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
The defendants were earlier found guilty on one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Allan Wyeth said while he accepted Tse's argument that he played a passive role in the scheme, conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice was nonetheless a serious offence.
The magistrate said he had taken into consideration Tse's clear record and his background report, adding that the singer enjoyed no privilege and was expected to observe the law.
The magistrate also said Lau, being a public servant, had committed the perversion offence of a more serious nature.
The magistrate added that a starting point of eight months was reduced to six months, taking into account his clear record.
Tse and Lau were convicted on one count of conspiring together and with Shing Kwok-ting and Chow Chu-fai to pervert the course of public justice between March 23 and April 12, 2002.
The two defendants had allowed Shing to falsely present himself, in substitution for Tse, as the driver of a private car in the police investigation of a traffic accident which took place at Cotton Tree Drive, Central, on March 23, 2002.
Shing, a former driver of EEG, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice relating to the same matter. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Ryan, assisted by ICAC officer Simon Chow.
Nicholas Tse, 22, artiste of Emperor Entertainment Group Limited (EEG), was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service, while co-conspirator Lau Chi-wai, 28, Police Constable, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
The defendants were earlier found guilty on one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Allan Wyeth said while he accepted Tse's argument that he played a passive role in the scheme, conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice was nonetheless a serious offence.
The magistrate said he had taken into consideration Tse's clear record and his background report, adding that the singer enjoyed no privilege and was expected to observe the law.
The magistrate also said Lau, being a public servant, had committed the perversion offence of a more serious nature.
The magistrate added that a starting point of eight months was reduced to six months, taking into account his clear record.
Tse and Lau were convicted on one count of conspiring together and with Shing Kwok-ting and Chow Chu-fai to pervert the course of public justice between March 23 and April 12, 2002.
The two defendants had allowed Shing to falsely present himself, in substitution for Tse, as the driver of a private car in the police investigation of a traffic accident which took place at Cotton Tree Drive, Central, on March 23, 2002.
Shing, a former driver of EEG, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice relating to the same matter. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Ryan, assisted by ICAC officer Simon Chow.