Solicitor and six others face ICAC charge over alleged false standby L/C plot
2005-1-21
Seven persons, including a solicitor and a solicitor's clerk, who were arrested yesterday by the ICAC for their alleged roles in a fraudulent scheme to swindle money with bogus standby Letters of Credit (L/Cs), were brought before the Eastern Magistracy t his (Friday) afternoon.
The defendants are: Chan Nai-keung, 53, proprietor of Paul Chan & Co. Solicitors (Paul Chan & Co.); Chiang Pak-yeung, 50, law clerk of Paul Chan & Co.; Zhong Pei-hong, 43, proprietor of Wah Shun Investment Enterprise; Lam Chun, 34, a merchant; Andy Chan M an-chun, 30, a worker; Albert Lee Tai-sang, 45; and Lui Chung-yee, 46, both unemployed.
They face one joint charge of conspiracy to use a copy of a false instrument.
No pleas were taken today. Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned Chan Man-chun's case to January 28, 2005 for plea, and remanded him in ICAC custody.
The case of the other six defendants was adjourned to February 18, 2005 for mention.
Zhong was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department, while the remaining defendants were granted cash bail ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The case arose from a corruption complaint involving a solicitor, a law clerk and a criminal syndicate who was alleged to have swindled money from Mainland merchants with bogus standby L/Cs. Subsequent ICAC inquiries revealed the alleged offence.
The defendants were alleged to have conspired together to use a false document purported to be a standby Letter of Credit issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank in New York, the United States.
The alleged offence took place between January 14 and January 20, 2005.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Stella Leung.
The defendants are: Chan Nai-keung, 53, proprietor of Paul Chan & Co. Solicitors (Paul Chan & Co.); Chiang Pak-yeung, 50, law clerk of Paul Chan & Co.; Zhong Pei-hong, 43, proprietor of Wah Shun Investment Enterprise; Lam Chun, 34, a merchant; Andy Chan M an-chun, 30, a worker; Albert Lee Tai-sang, 45; and Lui Chung-yee, 46, both unemployed.
They face one joint charge of conspiracy to use a copy of a false instrument.
No pleas were taken today. Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned Chan Man-chun's case to January 28, 2005 for plea, and remanded him in ICAC custody.
The case of the other six defendants was adjourned to February 18, 2005 for mention.
Zhong was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department, while the remaining defendants were granted cash bail ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The case arose from a corruption complaint involving a solicitor, a law clerk and a criminal syndicate who was alleged to have swindled money from Mainland merchants with bogus standby L/Cs. Subsequent ICAC inquiries revealed the alleged offence.
The defendants were alleged to have conspired together to use a false document purported to be a standby Letter of Credit issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank in New York, the United States.
The alleged offence took place between January 14 and January 20, 2005.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Stella Leung.