Ex-District Councillor and wife jailed for voting offences at Eastern DC Election
2005-6-23
A former member of the Eastern District Council (DC) and his wife, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) each sentenced to two months' imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for 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 on 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.
Upon the applications of the defendants, Magistrate Mr Eddie Yip granted them cash bail of $100,000 each, pending their appeals. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents to the court within 48 hours, not to leave Hong Kong, reside at re ported address, and report to the Police twice a week.
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 on 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.
Upon the applications of the defendants, Magistrate Mr Eddie Yip granted them cash bail of $100,000 each, pending their appeals. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents to the court within 48 hours, not to leave Hong Kong, reside at re ported address, and report to the Police twice a week.
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.