An unemployed man, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) convicted by a jury at the Court of First Instance of conspiring to murder an ICAC witness in relation to the trial of a $8 billion cigarette smuggling case allegedly facilitated by corruption.

Cheng Wui-yiu, 42, was found guilty unanimously of one count of conspiracy to murder, and one of conspiracy to deal with proceeds of an indictable offence under Section 25 of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Mr Justice Michael Lunn adjourned mitigation and sentencing until 10:30 am tomorrow (Thursday).

The court heard that between August 1994 and April 1995, Cheng had conspired, confederated and agreed with other persons to murder Tommy Chui To-yan in Singapore.

Chui was an ICAC witness, who was due to testify against the defendants in a $8 billion cigarette smuggling trial.

The court also heard that Cheng had conspired with other persons to deal with sums of cash amounting to $200,000, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the money was the reward for murdering Chui.

Cheng was returned to Hong Kong from the Mainland via the Lok Ma Chau border crossing in August last year, with the assistance of the Interpol Guangdong Liaison Office of Guangdong Public Security Department and the Hong Kong Police's Liaison Bureau.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Michael Arthur and Martin Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Mike Chan.