Ex-District Councillor and wife guilty of voting offences at Eastern DC Election
2005-6-2
A former member of the Eastern District Council (DC) and his wife, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) convicted at Eastern Magistracy of committing voting offences at the 2003 Eastern DC Election.
Choi Sai-chuen, 56, a former member of the Eastern DC, and his wife, Wong Sau-po, 49, were each found guilty of one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at an election, contrary to Section 16(1)(b) of the Elections (Corrupt and Ille gal Conduct) Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Eddie Yip adjourned the case until June 22, 2005 for sentence, pending background and welfare assistance reports.
Choi was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department, while Wong was granted cash bail of $100,000.
The court heard that in 1993, Choi and Wong purchased an apartment in Tai Hang Road of the Tai Hang Constituency/Wan Chai District.
On July 14, 2003, Choi and Wong each signed and submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office an Application for Voter Registration (Geographical Constituencies)/Report on Change of Residential Address.
In their applications, the couple stated that their Principal Residential Address was a commercial unit in King’s Road, North Point, thereby enabling them to become eligible voters in the Fort Street Constituency.
The couple cast their votes on the polling day on November 23, 2003.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, Choi and Wong falsely represented that they had lived in the commercial unit in North Point for the six months prior to the election.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Jonathan Man, assisted by ICAC officer Torres Leung.
Choi Sai-chuen, 56, a former member of the Eastern DC, and his wife, Wong Sau-po, 49, were each found guilty of one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at an election, contrary to Section 16(1)(b) of the Elections (Corrupt and Ille gal Conduct) Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Eddie Yip adjourned the case until June 22, 2005 for sentence, pending background and welfare assistance reports.
Choi was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department, while Wong was granted cash bail of $100,000.
The court heard that in 1993, Choi and Wong purchased an apartment in Tai Hang Road of the Tai Hang Constituency/Wan Chai District.
On July 14, 2003, Choi and Wong each signed and submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office an Application for Voter Registration (Geographical Constituencies)/Report on Change of Residential Address.
In their applications, the couple stated that their Principal Residential Address was a commercial unit in King’s Road, North Point, thereby enabling them to become eligible voters in the Fort Street Constituency.
The couple cast their votes on the polling day on November 23, 2003.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, Choi and Wong falsely represented that they had lived in the commercial unit in North Point for the six months prior to the election.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Jonathan Man, assisted by ICAC officer Torres Leung.