Life imprisonment for 'contract killing' of ICAC witness
2004-12-9
The Court of First Instance today (Thursday) meted out a life imprisonment to a man for 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 yesterday found guilty unanimously by a jury 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 (OSCO).
Cheng was given a life imprisonment for conspiracy to murder, and five years for the OSCO offence. Mr Justice Michael Lunn ordered that of the life imprisonment, Cheng was to serve a minimum of 22 years.
In sentencing, the judge said the murder of the ICAC witness was a contract killing which was well planned, revengeful and professionally executed, the motive of which was to prevent the deceased from testifying in Hong Kong in relation to very serious ch arges.
Cheng's conduct struck at the heart of the integrity of the criminal justice in Hong Kong, the judge said, adding that the payment for the murder was an aggravating factor of the offence of exceptional gravity.
The judge also remarked the defendant was finally brought to justice by the long resolute arm of ICAC that stretched across the bands of time, and with assistance of the authorities in the Mainland and Singapore.
An ICAC spokesman expressed appreciation for the assistance obtained from the Interpol Guangdong Liaison Office of Guangdong Public Security Department and the Hong Kong Police's Liaison Bureau for the return of Cheng from the Mainland in August last year .
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.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsels Michael Arthur and Martin Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Mike Chan.
Cheng Wui-yiu, 42, was yesterday found guilty unanimously by a jury 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 (OSCO).
Cheng was given a life imprisonment for conspiracy to murder, and five years for the OSCO offence. Mr Justice Michael Lunn ordered that of the life imprisonment, Cheng was to serve a minimum of 22 years.
In sentencing, the judge said the murder of the ICAC witness was a contract killing which was well planned, revengeful and professionally executed, the motive of which was to prevent the deceased from testifying in Hong Kong in relation to very serious ch arges.
Cheng's conduct struck at the heart of the integrity of the criminal justice in Hong Kong, the judge said, adding that the payment for the murder was an aggravating factor of the offence of exceptional gravity.
The judge also remarked the defendant was finally brought to justice by the long resolute arm of ICAC that stretched across the bands of time, and with assistance of the authorities in the Mainland and Singapore.
An ICAC spokesman expressed appreciation for the assistance obtained from the Interpol Guangdong Liaison Office of Guangdong Public Security Department and the Hong Kong Police's Liaison Bureau for the return of Cheng from the Mainland in August last year .
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.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsels Michael Arthur and Martin Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Mike Chan.