Man guilty of voting offence at Sha Kong Wai VR Election
2008-7-9
A registered voter of the 2007 Village Representative (VR) Election, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) convicted at Tuen Mun Magistracy for committing a voting offence in the VR election for Sha Kong Wai in Yuen Long.
Mok Man-hing, 47, was found guilty of one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at an election, contrary to Section 16(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Peter Hui noted that the offence was serious in nature. He adjourned the case to August 8 for sentence, pending community service order and background reports. Mok was granted cash bail of $1,000.
The court heard that on June 12, 2006, the defendant had submitted a Voter Registration Form for the 2007 Village Representative Election (Resident Representative) in which he claimed that he had been a resident of Sha Kong Wai for the three years immedia tely before registering as an elector.
Since then, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) had not received any amendments in respect of the defendant’s particulars, including his residential address.
ICAC investigation revealed that the defendant had moved out from Sha Kong Wai since late 2003.
On the polling day on February 4, 2007, HAD staff reminded electors that if anyone of them had moved out from the village, he or she would be disqualified to vote, and that it would be an offence if the elector voted in the election.
The defendant had voted at the said election knowing that he was not entitled to do so.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Marco Li and assisted by ICAC officer Julian Cheung.
Mok Man-hing, 47, was found guilty of one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at an election, contrary to Section 16(1)(a) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Peter Hui noted that the offence was serious in nature. He adjourned the case to August 8 for sentence, pending community service order and background reports. Mok was granted cash bail of $1,000.
The court heard that on June 12, 2006, the defendant had submitted a Voter Registration Form for the 2007 Village Representative Election (Resident Representative) in which he claimed that he had been a resident of Sha Kong Wai for the three years immedia tely before registering as an elector.
Since then, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) had not received any amendments in respect of the defendant’s particulars, including his residential address.
ICAC investigation revealed that the defendant had moved out from Sha Kong Wai since late 2003.
On the polling day on February 4, 2007, HAD staff reminded electors that if anyone of them had moved out from the village, he or she would be disqualified to vote, and that it would be an offence if the elector voted in the election.
The defendant had voted at the said election knowing that he was not entitled to do so.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Marco Li and assisted by ICAC officer Julian Cheung.