Thirteen admit vote-rigging at DC Election
2012-8-6
Thirteen registered electors, charged by the ICAC, today (Monday) admitted at Kowloon City Magistracy their roles in vote-rigging in relation to the 2011 Yau Tsim Mong District Council (DC) Election (King’s Park Constituency).
The defendants were Tang Sui-kay, 40, Luk Kong-shing, 54, Ho King-cheung, 65, all waiters; Chan Chung-lung, 53, Chan Yuet-sang, 39, both cooks; Tsang Po-kei, 29, Fanta Choi Heung-yu, 31, both pub attendants; Yim Sze-ming, 25, clerk; Yim Hoi-man, 29, proje ct director; Yim Mei-ki, 34, employee of a photo studio; Cheung Sui-ping, 23, housewife; Derrick Cheung Kwan-ho, 35, travel agent; and Oswald Cheung Kwan-ding, 25, unemployed.
Appearing in separate cases, they each pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at election, contrary to Section 16(1)(b)(i) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the cases to August 27 or 28 for sentence, pending background reports. The defendants were granted cash bail.
The court heard that on July 16, 2011, the defendants submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) their applications for registering as electors at the DC Election.
In their applications, the defendants respectively stated four flats in Mong Kok as their only or principal residential addresses –'96 two in Foo Tat Building, 50 Soy Street; one in Hung Kwong Building, 2A-2P Tung Choi Street; and one in On Hong Building, 15-23 Yin Chong Street.
Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed that one of the address in Hung Kwong Building did not exist, and that the defendants did not reside at their reported addresses.
Examination of the marked copies of the register confirmed that on the polling day on November 6, 2011, the defendants obtained ballot papers and voted at the DC Election after having given to the electoral officer information that they knew to be materia lly false or misleading, the court was told.
Nine other defendants, who earlier pleaded not guilty to vote-rigging at the election, also appeared at Kowloon City Magistracy today for pre-trial reviews.
They were Lai Ming-wing, 55, Ng Yee, 56, Lam Hoi-ping, 48, Chan Wai-kin, 41, all merchants; Ku Chiu-ming, 41, Leung Li-fung, 46, both hawkers; Cheung Kwai-yuk, 42, self-employed; Tai Lai-yee, 25, customer service officer, and Tai Hin-wing, 28, salesman.
The defendants will be tried at Kowloon City Magistracy or Eastern Magistracy in separate cases in October.
REO had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Beney Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Beta Leung.
The defendants were Tang Sui-kay, 40, Luk Kong-shing, 54, Ho King-cheung, 65, all waiters; Chan Chung-lung, 53, Chan Yuet-sang, 39, both cooks; Tsang Po-kei, 29, Fanta Choi Heung-yu, 31, both pub attendants; Yim Sze-ming, 25, clerk; Yim Hoi-man, 29, proje ct director; Yim Mei-ki, 34, employee of a photo studio; Cheung Sui-ping, 23, housewife; Derrick Cheung Kwan-ho, 35, travel agent; and Oswald Cheung Kwan-ding, 25, unemployed.
Appearing in separate cases, they each pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in corrupt conduct with respect to voting at election, contrary to Section 16(1)(b)(i) of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the cases to August 27 or 28 for sentence, pending background reports. The defendants were granted cash bail.
The court heard that on July 16, 2011, the defendants submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office (REO) their applications for registering as electors at the DC Election.
In their applications, the defendants respectively stated four flats in Mong Kok as their only or principal residential addresses –'96 two in Foo Tat Building, 50 Soy Street; one in Hung Kwong Building, 2A-2P Tung Choi Street; and one in On Hong Building, 15-23 Yin Chong Street.
Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed that one of the address in Hung Kwong Building did not exist, and that the defendants did not reside at their reported addresses.
Examination of the marked copies of the register confirmed that on the polling day on November 6, 2011, the defendants obtained ballot papers and voted at the DC Election after having given to the electoral officer information that they knew to be materia lly false or misleading, the court was told.
Nine other defendants, who earlier pleaded not guilty to vote-rigging at the election, also appeared at Kowloon City Magistracy today for pre-trial reviews.
They were Lai Ming-wing, 55, Ng Yee, 56, Lam Hoi-ping, 48, Chan Wai-kin, 41, all merchants; Ku Chiu-ming, 41, Leung Li-fung, 46, both hawkers; Cheung Kwai-yuk, 42, self-employed; Tai Lai-yee, 25, customer service officer, and Tai Hin-wing, 28, salesman.
The defendants will be tried at Kowloon City Magistracy or Eastern Magistracy in separate cases in October.
REO had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Beney Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Beta Leung.