Customs officer gets three years for 'bribe money' con
2003-10-30
A Customs Officer of the Customs and Excise Department was today (Thursday) sentenced to three years' imprisonment for falsely representing to a police suspect that he could help him escape prosecution for a $600,000 "bribe".
Lee Tak-chuen, 40, charged by the ICAC, was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy to obtain property by deception.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Whaley said being a member of a disciplined force, Lee had committed an offence of a serious nature and deserved an immediate custodial sentence.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the deception offence.
The court heard that in September 2000, a "bouncer" employed by a karaoke lounge to keep order during business, and his five associates were arrested by the police in connection with an alleged wounding case.
Lee's acquaintance, then a Detective Police Constable, was the investigating officer of the alleged wounding case.
Upon conclusion of the Police investigation, a government counsel of the Department of Justice advised against prosecution.
On September 8, 2002, Lee told the "bouncer" that the government counsel responsible for the alleged wounding case was his old classmates, who would preclude prosecution in return for $600,000.
The bribe money was then reduced to $400,000 and later to $200,000 after negotiations.
The court heard that on September 12, 2002, Lee telephoned the "bouncer" several times, pressing for payment on the ground that the government counsel was urgently in need of money. But the "bouncer" did not give Lee a definite reply.
Lee was subsequently arrested by the ICAC.
ICAC investigation revealed that the government counsel concerned was never involved in the alleged corrupt arrangement, nor did he know the defendant.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Eddie Sean, assisted by ICAC officer Steven Lam.
Lee Tak-chuen, 40, charged by the ICAC, was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy to obtain property by deception.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Whaley said being a member of a disciplined force, Lee had committed an offence of a serious nature and deserved an immediate custodial sentence.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the deception offence.
The court heard that in September 2000, a "bouncer" employed by a karaoke lounge to keep order during business, and his five associates were arrested by the police in connection with an alleged wounding case.
Lee's acquaintance, then a Detective Police Constable, was the investigating officer of the alleged wounding case.
Upon conclusion of the Police investigation, a government counsel of the Department of Justice advised against prosecution.
On September 8, 2002, Lee told the "bouncer" that the government counsel responsible for the alleged wounding case was his old classmates, who would preclude prosecution in return for $600,000.
The bribe money was then reduced to $400,000 and later to $200,000 after negotiations.
The court heard that on September 12, 2002, Lee telephoned the "bouncer" several times, pressing for payment on the ground that the government counsel was urgently in need of money. But the "bouncer" did not give Lee a definite reply.
Lee was subsequently arrested by the ICAC.
ICAC investigation revealed that the government counsel concerned was never involved in the alleged corrupt arrangement, nor did he know the defendant.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Eddie Sean, assisted by ICAC officer Steven Lam.