Ex-police officer guilty of accepting free accommodation from subject of police investigation
2006-2-17
A former Detective Station Sergeant of the Police, charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) convicted at Kowloon City Magistracy of accepting free accommodation at a flat in Macao from a subject of police investigation for showing favour to the latter.
So Hoi-chuen, 55, now retired, was found guilty on one count of public servant accepting advantages, contrary to Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
In the same trial, Ngan Chun-ming, 45, the subject of police investigation, is also convicted of one count of offering advantages to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1) of PBO.
Magistrate Mr Douglas Yau adjourned sentencing to March 4, 2006, pending background reports. The defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, So was a serving Detective Station Sergeant attached to the Regional Anti-triad Unit of Kowloon West Region.
So became acquainted with Ngan in 2001 while Ngan was on police bail for a suspected criminal damage case investigated by So's unit.
In March 2003, Ngan was again arrested by So's unit for suspected unlawful assembly offence in the Yaumatei Fruit Market. So was present in the Police briefing session leading to Ngan's arrest.
On two occasions in July 2003, So met Ngan to obtain information regarding two suspected wounding cases.
On September 1, 2003, So met Ngan in a fast food shop. During the meeting, Ngan told So that on the latter's behalf, he had settled the first two months' rent and commission for the property agent in relation to the leasing of a residential premises in M acau.
So then told Ngan that the occupancy for the premises would last for six months, and it was agreed that Ngan would pay the rents.
The above meeting was covertly monitored by the ICAC. While evidence obtained from the surveillance was challenged by the defence during the trial, the magistrate ruled that the evidence was admissible.
The free accommodation was a reward for So to treat Ngan favourably in a manner contrary to his duty as a police officer, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Jonathan Man, assisted by ICAC officer James Chan.
So Hoi-chuen, 55, now retired, was found guilty on one count of public servant accepting advantages, contrary to Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
In the same trial, Ngan Chun-ming, 45, the subject of police investigation, is also convicted of one count of offering advantages to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1) of PBO.
Magistrate Mr Douglas Yau adjourned sentencing to March 4, 2006, pending background reports. The defendants were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, So was a serving Detective Station Sergeant attached to the Regional Anti-triad Unit of Kowloon West Region.
So became acquainted with Ngan in 2001 while Ngan was on police bail for a suspected criminal damage case investigated by So's unit.
In March 2003, Ngan was again arrested by So's unit for suspected unlawful assembly offence in the Yaumatei Fruit Market. So was present in the Police briefing session leading to Ngan's arrest.
On two occasions in July 2003, So met Ngan to obtain information regarding two suspected wounding cases.
On September 1, 2003, So met Ngan in a fast food shop. During the meeting, Ngan told So that on the latter's behalf, he had settled the first two months' rent and commission for the property agent in relation to the leasing of a residential premises in M acau.
So then told Ngan that the occupancy for the premises would last for six months, and it was agreed that Ngan would pay the rents.
The above meeting was covertly monitored by the ICAC. While evidence obtained from the surveillance was challenged by the defence during the trial, the magistrate ruled that the evidence was admissible.
The free accommodation was a reward for So to treat Ngan favourably in a manner contrary to his duty as a police officer, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Jonathan Man, assisted by ICAC officer James Chan.