Four face ICAC charges for allegedly perverting justice over corruption investigation
2005-3-3
Four persons, including a barrister and a solicitor, were today (Thursday) charged and brought to court by the ICAC for alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice in relation to a corruption investigation.
The defendants are Kevin Barry Egan, 58, barrister-at-law; Andrew Lam Ping-cheung, 53, solicitor; Kanjanapas Chong Kwong Derek, also known as Wong Chong-kwong, 37, businessman; and Mandy Chui Man-si, 25, company director.
The four were brought to the Eastern Magistracy this morning on a total of five charges, including conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, conspiracy to disclose and disclosing information about the identity of a participant in a witness prote ction programme, and perjury.
No pleas were taken. Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned the case to March 11, 2005. Egan was granted bail of $50,000 in cash with one surety of $50,000. Lam was allowed cash bail of $200,000, while Wong and Chui were each granted bail of $200,000 in cas h with one surety of $200,000.
The defendants were ordered to surrender their travel documents to court and not to leave Hong Kong. They were also required to reside at their reported addresses and inform the ICAC 24 hours in advance should there be any intended change. In addition, the defendants were ordered not to contact witnesses in connection with the case.
One of the charges alleged that Egan, Lam, Wong and Chui, knowing that Wong and others had been arrested in an ongoing investigation by the ICAC, and that criminal proceedings arising from the investigation were possible, conspired with another person to pervert the course of public justice.
The defendants were said to have done a series of acts which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice, namely to obstruct and hinder the investigation and possible proceedings by seeking to gain access to a person whom they believed to be co -operating with and assisting the ICAC in that investigation, with a view to ascertaining what she had said to ICAC investigators and influencing her against providing assistance or information to the ICAC.
Lam and Egan were also charged with one count of conspiracy to disclose, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to journalists of the Hong Kong media, information about the identity of a participant in a witness protection programme, contrary to S ection 17(1)(a) of the Witness Protection Ordinance (WPO).
Egan further faced two alternative WPO charges of allegedly disclosing to a reporter information about the identity of a person who was a participant in a witness protection programme.
Chui was also charged with one count of perjury. The charge alleged that Chui, being lawfully affirmed as a deponent, had wilfully made false statements on affirmation for the purpose of a habeas corpus proceeding.
The above alleged offences took place between July 11 and 17, 2004.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Raymond Yuen.
The defendants are Kevin Barry Egan, 58, barrister-at-law; Andrew Lam Ping-cheung, 53, solicitor; Kanjanapas Chong Kwong Derek, also known as Wong Chong-kwong, 37, businessman; and Mandy Chui Man-si, 25, company director.
The four were brought to the Eastern Magistracy this morning on a total of five charges, including conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, conspiracy to disclose and disclosing information about the identity of a participant in a witness prote ction programme, and perjury.
No pleas were taken. Magistrate Mr Ian Candy adjourned the case to March 11, 2005. Egan was granted bail of $50,000 in cash with one surety of $50,000. Lam was allowed cash bail of $200,000, while Wong and Chui were each granted bail of $200,000 in cas h with one surety of $200,000.
The defendants were ordered to surrender their travel documents to court and not to leave Hong Kong. They were also required to reside at their reported addresses and inform the ICAC 24 hours in advance should there be any intended change. In addition, the defendants were ordered not to contact witnesses in connection with the case.
One of the charges alleged that Egan, Lam, Wong and Chui, knowing that Wong and others had been arrested in an ongoing investigation by the ICAC, and that criminal proceedings arising from the investigation were possible, conspired with another person to pervert the course of public justice.
The defendants were said to have done a series of acts which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice, namely to obstruct and hinder the investigation and possible proceedings by seeking to gain access to a person whom they believed to be co -operating with and assisting the ICAC in that investigation, with a view to ascertaining what she had said to ICAC investigators and influencing her against providing assistance or information to the ICAC.
Lam and Egan were also charged with one count of conspiracy to disclose, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to journalists of the Hong Kong media, information about the identity of a participant in a witness protection programme, contrary to S ection 17(1)(a) of the Witness Protection Ordinance (WPO).
Egan further faced two alternative WPO charges of allegedly disclosing to a reporter information about the identity of a person who was a participant in a witness protection programme.
Chui was also charged with one count of perjury. The charge alleged that Chui, being lawfully affirmed as a deponent, had wilfully made false statements on affirmation for the purpose of a habeas corpus proceeding.
The above alleged offences took place between July 11 and 17, 2004.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Raymond Yuen.