Four guilty of illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River
2005-4-19
Four persons, charged by the ICAC, were convicted at District Court of their respective roles in the illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River.
The defendants were Law Kam-fai, 63, chairman of Tung Chung Rural Committee (TCRC); Wong Yat-wah, 52, operator of Tung Po Engineering Company; Li Kwai-mo, 62, vice-chairman of TCRC; and Mok Kwong-ming, 65, secretary of TCRC.
Law and Wong were yesterday found guilty by Deputy Judge Andrew Chan on one count of conspiracy to defraud. They were today convicted of three other offences - conspiracy to steal, removal of stone from unleased land, and unauthorized excavations in unle ased land.
Law, Li and Mok were today convicted of one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
The judge adjourned the case until May 3, 2005 for sentence, and remanded the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The ICAC earlier received a number of corruption complaints in connection with the illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River. Subsequent inquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that Law and Wong had conspired to defraud the government, which, on discovering environmental hazard caused by the removal of boulders from Tung Chung River, had launched an inquiry.
The duo had falsely claimed that TCRC had instructed Wong to carry out a flood prevention project at particular sections of the river.
They also claimed that the dredging work carried out in the river was purely for the purpose of solving the flooding problem, and the rocks excavated from the river would be used for constructing a breakwater.
As a result of the false representations, the government was induced to delay taking action against the illegal excavation of rocks from the river.
The court also heard that Law, Li and Mok had conspired together and with other persons to falsely represent to the Police that Wong was authorized by TCRC during a committee meeting to excavate rocks from Tung Chung River.
Law and Wong, who had conspired to steal the river rocks belonging to the government, were also convicted of removing stones from unleased land without a permit, and maintaining excavations without a permit, respectively under Section 7(1) and Section 8(1 ) of the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance.
The above offences took place between August and December 2003.
The prosecution was today represented by Christopher Coghlan, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Li.
The defendants were Law Kam-fai, 63, chairman of Tung Chung Rural Committee (TCRC); Wong Yat-wah, 52, operator of Tung Po Engineering Company; Li Kwai-mo, 62, vice-chairman of TCRC; and Mok Kwong-ming, 65, secretary of TCRC.
Law and Wong were yesterday found guilty by Deputy Judge Andrew Chan on one count of conspiracy to defraud. They were today convicted of three other offences - conspiracy to steal, removal of stone from unleased land, and unauthorized excavations in unle ased land.
Law, Li and Mok were today convicted of one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
The judge adjourned the case until May 3, 2005 for sentence, and remanded the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The ICAC earlier received a number of corruption complaints in connection with the illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River. Subsequent inquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that Law and Wong had conspired to defraud the government, which, on discovering environmental hazard caused by the removal of boulders from Tung Chung River, had launched an inquiry.
The duo had falsely claimed that TCRC had instructed Wong to carry out a flood prevention project at particular sections of the river.
They also claimed that the dredging work carried out in the river was purely for the purpose of solving the flooding problem, and the rocks excavated from the river would be used for constructing a breakwater.
As a result of the false representations, the government was induced to delay taking action against the illegal excavation of rocks from the river.
The court also heard that Law, Li and Mok had conspired together and with other persons to falsely represent to the Police that Wong was authorized by TCRC during a committee meeting to excavate rocks from Tung Chung River.
Law and Wong, who had conspired to steal the river rocks belonging to the government, were also convicted of removing stones from unleased land without a permit, and maintaining excavations without a permit, respectively under Section 7(1) and Section 8(1 ) of the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance.
The above offences took place between August and December 2003.
The prosecution was today represented by Christopher Coghlan, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Li.