Man gets 21 months for bribing jockey
2007-10-12
A man, charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment at the District Court for conspiracy to offer advantages to a jockey in a tips-for-bets scam.
Fung Hok-cheung, 47, unemployed, was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Bina Chainrai said the defendant had undermined the integrity of racing and public confidence in it.
The judge added that a jail sentence must be imposed to give significant deterrent effect.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the bribery offence.
The court heard that in June 2006, an ICAC undercover officer, posing as a punter, became acquainted with the defendant.
On June 16, 2006, the defendant proposed that Christopher Munce, then a retained jockey of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, would provide the undercover officer with racing tips, namely the winning chances on his mounts.
In return, the undercover officer would place bets for Munce on those horses the jockey recommended.
In the event that the tips materialized, the undercover officer would pay Munce the dividends less the costs. In case where Munce lost in the races, the undercover officer would absorb the losses.
On June 25, 2006, the defendant told the undercover officer that Munce's mounts "Windicator" and "Crystal" had a chance to win in the race meeting on that day.
The defendant also requested the undercover officer to place bets totalling $150,000 on the two mounts for Munce. Eventually, both mounts lost in the race meeting.
Two days later, the defendant introduced the undercover officer to Munce during a lunch meeting.
On July 2, 2006, the defendant tipped off the undercover officer that Munce's mounts "Sunny Power" and "Down Town" had a chance to win in the race meeting on that day.
The defendant requested the undercover officer to place bets totalling $150,000 on the two mounts for Munce. Eventually, the two mounts won in the race meeting, with total dividends amounting to $1,013,600.
After the race meeting, the defendant told the undercover officer that the amount payable to Munce was $863,600 being the dividends less $150,000 costs. The defendant then accompanied the undercover officer to Lan Kwai Fong where they met Munce.
On the following day, the undercover officer met the defendant in a restaurant in Tsimshatsui. The undercover officer handed to the defendant $150,000 in cash being part of the dividends won, and agreed to give the remaining balance to the defendant late r that day.
After the meeting, the defendant was arrested and the $150,000 cash was retrieved from his body, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Hong.
Fung Hok-cheung, 47, unemployed, was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Bina Chainrai said the defendant had undermined the integrity of racing and public confidence in it.
The judge added that a jail sentence must be imposed to give significant deterrent effect.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the bribery offence.
The court heard that in June 2006, an ICAC undercover officer, posing as a punter, became acquainted with the defendant.
On June 16, 2006, the defendant proposed that Christopher Munce, then a retained jockey of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, would provide the undercover officer with racing tips, namely the winning chances on his mounts.
In return, the undercover officer would place bets for Munce on those horses the jockey recommended.
In the event that the tips materialized, the undercover officer would pay Munce the dividends less the costs. In case where Munce lost in the races, the undercover officer would absorb the losses.
On June 25, 2006, the defendant told the undercover officer that Munce's mounts "Windicator" and "Crystal" had a chance to win in the race meeting on that day.
The defendant also requested the undercover officer to place bets totalling $150,000 on the two mounts for Munce. Eventually, both mounts lost in the race meeting.
Two days later, the defendant introduced the undercover officer to Munce during a lunch meeting.
On July 2, 2006, the defendant tipped off the undercover officer that Munce's mounts "Sunny Power" and "Down Town" had a chance to win in the race meeting on that day.
The defendant requested the undercover officer to place bets totalling $150,000 on the two mounts for Munce. Eventually, the two mounts won in the race meeting, with total dividends amounting to $1,013,600.
After the race meeting, the defendant told the undercover officer that the amount payable to Munce was $863,600 being the dividends less $150,000 costs. The defendant then accompanied the undercover officer to Lan Kwai Fong where they met Munce.
On the following day, the undercover officer met the defendant in a restaurant in Tsimshatsui. The undercover officer handed to the defendant $150,000 in cash being part of the dividends won, and agreed to give the remaining balance to the defendant late r that day.
After the meeting, the defendant was arrested and the $150,000 cash was retrieved from his body, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Hong.