Police Sergeant gets 3 years for taking bribes to tip off vice dens about impending raids
2005-5-11
A Police Sergeant, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to three years' imprisonment at District Court for taking about $40,000 in bribes to tip off vice establishments in Mongkok about impending raids.
Leung Choi, 46, was earlier found guilty on one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Andrew Chan Hing-wai said a heavy sentence was warranted in view of the serious bribery offence, which might undermine the public's confidence in law enforcement agencies.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, Leung was attached to a patrol sub-unit of Mongkok Police Station.
Through a Mainland woman, Leung came to know a pimp operating in Hong Kong.
At a meeting which took place in a hotel in Shenzhen, Leung agreed to provide the pimp with information relating to anti-vice operations in return for monetary rewards.
The pimp gave Leung 5,000 renminbi or Hong Kong dollars through the Mainland woman at the end of the meeting.
Between September 2003 and May last year, Leung accepted bribe payments, totalling $35,000 to $40,000, from the pimp through the Mainland woman.
In return, Leung, on a number of occasions, provided the pimp with information in connection with anti-vice operations or activities of the Immigration Department and the Police in Mongkok.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Markle Ng.
Leung Choi, 46, was earlier found guilty on one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Andrew Chan Hing-wai said a heavy sentence was warranted in view of the serious bribery offence, which might undermine the public's confidence in law enforcement agencies.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, Leung was attached to a patrol sub-unit of Mongkok Police Station.
Through a Mainland woman, Leung came to know a pimp operating in Hong Kong.
At a meeting which took place in a hotel in Shenzhen, Leung agreed to provide the pimp with information relating to anti-vice operations in return for monetary rewards.
The pimp gave Leung 5,000 renminbi or Hong Kong dollars through the Mainland woman at the end of the meeting.
Between September 2003 and May last year, Leung accepted bribe payments, totalling $35,000 to $40,000, from the pimp through the Mainland woman.
In return, Leung, on a number of occasions, provided the pimp with information in connection with anti-vice operations or activities of the Immigration Department and the Police in Mongkok.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Markle Ng.