Eleven pawnshop licensees, operators sentenced for bribery
2011-7-7
Eleven pawnshop licensees or operators, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) each sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, at Kowloon City Magistracy for offering “ laisees ” to two policemen during the Lunar New Year in 2010.
The defendants, who were licensees or operators of 11 pawnshops in Kowloon City, were Poon Kwok-keung, 72; Lo Yu-kam, 66; Ma Yung-keung, 70; Au Chi-kong, 60; Poon Yiu-kur, 78; Law Kwok-bun, 40; Cheung Chuen-ying, 54; Ling Wan-chung, 58; Tse Kin-wo, 59; Ho Ching-lok, 34; and Lee Ka-biu, 62.
They were each found guilty of two counts of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen remarked that the reasons put up by the defendants for offering the “ laisees ” were not acceptable.
The court heard that the defendants offered “ laisees ”, ranging from $20 to $500 on each occasion, to two Senior Police Constables (SPCs) on February 18, 2010 –'96 Lunar New Year. The total amount of “ laisees ” offered to the two SPCs amounted to more than $3,000.
The two SPCs, who were then attached to the District Intelligence Section (Pawnshop) of Kowloon City District, were tasked to discharge a supervisory role on the conduct of the pawnshops within the district on a daily basis, the court was told.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kelly Shui, assisted by ICAC officer Jack Hui.
The defendants, who were licensees or operators of 11 pawnshops in Kowloon City, were Poon Kwok-keung, 72; Lo Yu-kam, 66; Ma Yung-keung, 70; Au Chi-kong, 60; Poon Yiu-kur, 78; Law Kwok-bun, 40; Cheung Chuen-ying, 54; Ling Wan-chung, 58; Tse Kin-wo, 59; Ho Ching-lok, 34; and Lee Ka-biu, 62.
They were each found guilty of two counts of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen remarked that the reasons put up by the defendants for offering the “ laisees ” were not acceptable.
The court heard that the defendants offered “ laisees ”, ranging from $20 to $500 on each occasion, to two Senior Police Constables (SPCs) on February 18, 2010 –'96 Lunar New Year. The total amount of “ laisees ” offered to the two SPCs amounted to more than $3,000.
The two SPCs, who were then attached to the District Intelligence Section (Pawnshop) of Kowloon City District, were tasked to discharge a supervisory role on the conduct of the pawnshops within the district on a daily basis, the court was told.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kelly Shui, assisted by ICAC officer Jack Hui.