Former LLB chairman has alleged misconduct case transferred to District Court
2003-5-20
The former chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB), charged by the ICAC for alleged misconduct in public office over applications for liquor licence, had his case transferred to the District Court, while a warrant was issued for the arrest of a solic itor for her alleged role in the case.
Wong Hon-ching San Stephen, 50, appeared at Western Magistracy this (Tuesday) morning on one count of misconduct in public office under the Common Law.
The case was transferred to District Court for plea on June 10, 2003.
Magistrate Mr Timothy Jenkins ordered Wong not to leave Hong Kong except for the Mainland and Macau, and to surrender his passport to court.
The magistrate also increased the defendant’s cash bail from $20,000 to $120,000, and ordered him not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Wong had been charged with one count of having wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted himself between January 2000 and December 2001 in relation to his public office as LLB chairman, in that he:
- engaged in discussions with liquor licence applicants prior to the convening of LLB meetings during which applications of the said applicants would be considered;
- caused the liquor licence applicants to believe that their applications might benefit if Yu Mei-lin Catherine was instructed as their legal representative;
- improperly provided internal documents of LLB to Yu which were confidential in nature; and
- failed to abstain from the decision making process in respect of those liquor licence applications before LLB, which Yu acted as the applicants' legal representative.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Steven Lam.
Meanwhile, on the application of the ICAC, the Western Magistracy has issued a warrant for the arrest of a solicitor for her alleged role in the suspected scam.
Yu Mei-lin Catherine, 40, was wanted for allegedly aiding and abetting, counselling and procuring Wong Hon-ching in the commission of the alleged misconduct offence.
Yu was arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry in March last year. She was subsequently released on ICAC bail, pending further inquiries.
Yu refused bail in August last year. She has not returned to Hong Kong after leaving for New Zealand in February this year.
Wong Hon-ching San Stephen, 50, appeared at Western Magistracy this (Tuesday) morning on one count of misconduct in public office under the Common Law.
The case was transferred to District Court for plea on June 10, 2003.
Magistrate Mr Timothy Jenkins ordered Wong not to leave Hong Kong except for the Mainland and Macau, and to surrender his passport to court.
The magistrate also increased the defendant’s cash bail from $20,000 to $120,000, and ordered him not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Wong had been charged with one count of having wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted himself between January 2000 and December 2001 in relation to his public office as LLB chairman, in that he:
- engaged in discussions with liquor licence applicants prior to the convening of LLB meetings during which applications of the said applicants would be considered;
- caused the liquor licence applicants to believe that their applications might benefit if Yu Mei-lin Catherine was instructed as their legal representative;
- improperly provided internal documents of LLB to Yu which were confidential in nature; and
- failed to abstain from the decision making process in respect of those liquor licence applications before LLB, which Yu acted as the applicants' legal representative.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Steven Lam.
Meanwhile, on the application of the ICAC, the Western Magistracy has issued a warrant for the arrest of a solicitor for her alleged role in the suspected scam.
Yu Mei-lin Catherine, 40, was wanted for allegedly aiding and abetting, counselling and procuring Wong Hon-ching in the commission of the alleged misconduct offence.
Yu was arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry in March last year. She was subsequently released on ICAC bail, pending further inquiries.
Yu refused bail in August last year. She has not returned to Hong Kong after leaving for New Zealand in February this year.