Government recovers $4m assets from former policeman wanted by ICAC
2003-6-3
The Hong Kong Government has recovered assets worth about HK$4 million from former police sergeant Cheung Wing-shu following civil proceedings instituted by the Department of Justice on behalf of the ICAC.
On March 12, 2003, Mr Justice Yam of the Court of First Instance ordered that bank deposits plus accrued interest totalling at least US$402,000 (about HK$3,135,000) and HK$780,000, as well as jewellery valued at about HK$38,000 in 1976 under the control o f Cheung be transferred and paid to the Government.
The assets were alleged to have been acquired by Cheung through corrupt means during his service in the Police Force.
The order was made in recovery proceedings instituted by the Department of Justice against Cheung and persons under whose names Cheung had held the said assets.
An ICAC spokesman said: "This case demonstrates the ICAC's unrelenting determination to pursue corruption and to recover ill-gotten gains through legitimate channels."
Cheung, now aged 76, became a target of an ICAC investigation for suspected corruption in early 1975.
During the trial of former Police Superintendent Peter Godber in 1975, Cheung was implicated by prosecution witnesses Ernest Hunt and Cheng Hon-kuen to have corruptly associated with Godber while Cheung was working in the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Wanchai Police Station.
Cheung applied for early retirement in 1973 after serving in the Force for 22 years, and left Hong Kong for Taiwan on March 5, 1974.
ICAC inquiries revealed that Cheung was in control of assets exceeding HK$3.18 million as at December 18, 1972, which were disproportionate to his official emoluments.
Between October and December 1975, the ICAC successfully restrained a number of bank accounts believed to be controlled by Cheung under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
A warrant for his arrest was issued on February 4, 1976. Cheung is still wanted by the ICAC for the alleged offence of possession of assets disproportionate to his official emoluments, contrary to Section 10 (1)(b) of the PBO.
On March 12, 2003, Mr Justice Yam of the Court of First Instance ordered that bank deposits plus accrued interest totalling at least US$402,000 (about HK$3,135,000) and HK$780,000, as well as jewellery valued at about HK$38,000 in 1976 under the control o f Cheung be transferred and paid to the Government.
The assets were alleged to have been acquired by Cheung through corrupt means during his service in the Police Force.
The order was made in recovery proceedings instituted by the Department of Justice against Cheung and persons under whose names Cheung had held the said assets.
An ICAC spokesman said: "This case demonstrates the ICAC's unrelenting determination to pursue corruption and to recover ill-gotten gains through legitimate channels."
Cheung, now aged 76, became a target of an ICAC investigation for suspected corruption in early 1975.
During the trial of former Police Superintendent Peter Godber in 1975, Cheung was implicated by prosecution witnesses Ernest Hunt and Cheng Hon-kuen to have corruptly associated with Godber while Cheung was working in the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Wanchai Police Station.
Cheung applied for early retirement in 1973 after serving in the Force for 22 years, and left Hong Kong for Taiwan on March 5, 1974.
ICAC inquiries revealed that Cheung was in control of assets exceeding HK$3.18 million as at December 18, 1972, which were disproportionate to his official emoluments.
Between October and December 1975, the ICAC successfully restrained a number of bank accounts believed to be controlled by Cheung under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
A warrant for his arrest was issued on February 4, 1976. Cheung is still wanted by the ICAC for the alleged offence of possession of assets disproportionate to his official emoluments, contrary to Section 10 (1)(b) of the PBO.