Four policemen and ex-C&E officer guilty of vice-related and criminal charges
2004-12-7
Four police officers and a former customs officer, who were arrested by the ICAC in a corruption inquiry, were today (Tueday) convicted at District Court of their involvement in vice and illegal activities.
Raymond Cho Ming-sum, 34, a Senior Inspector of Police; Popy Lam Hon-kwok, 43 and Kan Kwok-cheung, 40, both Sergeants; Jim Fai-keung, 36, a Police Constable; and Leung Chi-yin, 44, a former officer of the Customs & Excise Department, were today found guil ty on a total of four charges.
The charges included two counts of conspiracy to live on earnings of prostitution, one of incitement to commit conspiracy to rob, and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Lam earlier pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.
Deputy Judge Lam Wai-kuen adjourned sentencing until this Saturday (December 11). Lam, Kan, Jim and Leung were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from corruption complaints against some police officers in relation to entertainment and vice establishments in the Yau Tsim district. Subsequent enquiries revealed the vice-related and criminal offences.
The court heard that in February last year, Kan and an informant set up a "one-woman brothel" in Tsimshatsui, each contributing $125,000 to the business. Cho and Jim later joined in the business, each paying $25,000.
In May or June last year, Kan introduced Lam to the informant in Zhuhai. Lam referred a woman to the informant, and the two agreed that Lam would receive a $50 commission for each "customer" to whom the woman provided sexual service at their brothel.
Lam later introduced Leung to the informant. They agreed that women would be recruited from the Mainland to work as prostitutes at the brothel, while Leung would receive a commission from Lam.
The court heard that in August last year, Lam had incited another informant to carry out a robbery at a bank.
The court also heard that the defendants were arrested in September last year. After they were released by the ICAC pending further inquiries, Cho and Kan had taken part in a scheme to prevent potential witnesses from providing information or statements to the ICAC.
During a search on Lam's residence by ICAC officers, he was found in possession of a prohibited gravity-operated steel baton, the court was told.
Cho failed to appear in court for the verdict. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the judge. The Police will actively assist the ICAC in locating Cho.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Cho or any other information which may lead to his arrest is urged to contact the ICAC on its 24-hour hotline 2526 6366. Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.
The prosecution was today represented by Selwyn So, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Roger Lam.
Raymond Cho Ming-sum, 34, a Senior Inspector of Police; Popy Lam Hon-kwok, 43 and Kan Kwok-cheung, 40, both Sergeants; Jim Fai-keung, 36, a Police Constable; and Leung Chi-yin, 44, a former officer of the Customs & Excise Department, were today found guil ty on a total of four charges.
The charges included two counts of conspiracy to live on earnings of prostitution, one of incitement to commit conspiracy to rob, and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
Lam earlier pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.
Deputy Judge Lam Wai-kuen adjourned sentencing until this Saturday (December 11). Lam, Kan, Jim and Leung were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from corruption complaints against some police officers in relation to entertainment and vice establishments in the Yau Tsim district. Subsequent enquiries revealed the vice-related and criminal offences.
The court heard that in February last year, Kan and an informant set up a "one-woman brothel" in Tsimshatsui, each contributing $125,000 to the business. Cho and Jim later joined in the business, each paying $25,000.
In May or June last year, Kan introduced Lam to the informant in Zhuhai. Lam referred a woman to the informant, and the two agreed that Lam would receive a $50 commission for each "customer" to whom the woman provided sexual service at their brothel.
Lam later introduced Leung to the informant. They agreed that women would be recruited from the Mainland to work as prostitutes at the brothel, while Leung would receive a commission from Lam.
The court heard that in August last year, Lam had incited another informant to carry out a robbery at a bank.
The court also heard that the defendants were arrested in September last year. After they were released by the ICAC pending further inquiries, Cho and Kan had taken part in a scheme to prevent potential witnesses from providing information or statements to the ICAC.
During a search on Lam's residence by ICAC officers, he was found in possession of a prohibited gravity-operated steel baton, the court was told.
Cho failed to appear in court for the verdict. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the judge. The Police will actively assist the ICAC in locating Cho.
Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Cho or any other information which may lead to his arrest is urged to contact the ICAC on its 24-hour hotline 2526 6366. Information received will be treated in the strictest confidence.
The prosecution was today represented by Selwyn So, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Roger Lam.