Eight jailed for vote-rigging at DC Election
2012-8-27
Eight registered electors, charged by the ICAC, were today (Monday) each sentenced to two months’ imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for vote-rigging in relation to the 2011 Yau Tsim Mong District Council (DC) Election (King’s Park Constituency).
The defendants were Tsang Po-kei, 29, Fanta Choi Heung-yu, 31, both pub attendants; Yim Sze-ming, 25, sales clerk; Yim Hoi-man, 29, make-up artist; Yim Mei-ki, 34, employee of a photo studio; Cheung Sui-ping, 23, housewife; Derrick Cheung Kwan-ho, 35, tra vel agent; and Oswald Cheung Kwan-ding, 25, unemployed.
The defendants earlier 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.
In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen remarked that custodial sentences were appropriate for the defendants as engaging in corrupt conduct at an election was of a very serious nature.
The magistrate added that the starting point of three months was reduced to two months, taking into account their guilty pleas.
Upon the applications of the defendants in three separate cases, the magistrate granted them cash bail of $2,000 each, pending their appeals against sentences.
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 that three flats in Mong Kok were their only or principal residential addresses –'96 one 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.
ICAC enquiries revealed that 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.
REO had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Jones Tsui, assisted by ICAC officer Beta Leung.
The defendants were Tsang Po-kei, 29, Fanta Choi Heung-yu, 31, both pub attendants; Yim Sze-ming, 25, sales clerk; Yim Hoi-man, 29, make-up artist; Yim Mei-ki, 34, employee of a photo studio; Cheung Sui-ping, 23, housewife; Derrick Cheung Kwan-ho, 35, tra vel agent; and Oswald Cheung Kwan-ding, 25, unemployed.
The defendants earlier 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.
In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen remarked that custodial sentences were appropriate for the defendants as engaging in corrupt conduct at an election was of a very serious nature.
The magistrate added that the starting point of three months was reduced to two months, taking into account their guilty pleas.
Upon the applications of the defendants in three separate cases, the magistrate granted them cash bail of $2,000 each, pending their appeals against sentences.
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 that three flats in Mong Kok were their only or principal residential addresses –'96 one 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.
ICAC enquiries revealed that 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.
REO had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Jones Tsui, assisted by ICAC officer Beta Leung.