An unemployed man, charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at the District Court for perversion by inciting an attacker, who threw corrosive acid onto the daughter and nephew of a former district councillor, not to give evidence against the instigator of the attack.

Chow Kin-sang, 31, was earlier found guilty of one count of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice.

In sentencing, Deputy Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng said the offence of perversion was serious, and so was the offence of throwing corrosive acid onto another person behind the perversion plot.

The judge added that the court had to mete out a custodial sentence to the defendant as a lenient sentence would not serve a deterrent.

The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence of perversion.

The court heard that in 2004, Chan Ying-kin, a triad member, was arrested by the Police for throwing corrosive acid onto the daughter and nephew of then Tai Po District Council member Wan Hok-lim.

Chan admitted under caution that the attack was instructed by his triad brother Lam Ming-wing, also known as “Monkey”.

When Chan was remanded in jail custody, Chow visited Chan on five occasions between April and June 2004, and offered him $200,000 to $300,000 as a reward for not turning against Lam, the court was told.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Edwin Choy, assisted by ICAC officer Kelvin Choi.