Duo jailed for vote-rigging at DC Election
2012-11-27
A hawker and a customer service officer, charged by the ICAC, were today (Tuesday) each sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for vote-rigging at the 2011 District Council (DC) Election.
Leung Li-fung, 46, a hawker, and Tai Lai-yee, 26, a customer service officer, were earlier each found guilty of 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 Ille gal Conduct) Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen said custodial sentences were appropriate for the defendants as vote-rigging was a “very serious” offence.
The magistrate added that after taking into account all mitigating factors of the defendants, he considered no exceptional circumstances were involved in the case warranting a reduction in their custodial sentences.
Upon their applications, the magistrate granted the defendants cash bail of $2,000 each, pending their appeals. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents and not to leave Hong Kong.
The court heard that on July 16, 2011, the defendants submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office their applications for registration as electors at the 2011 Yau Tsim Mong DC Election (King’s Park Constituency).
In their applications, the defendants stated that a flat in Foo Tat Building, 50 Soy Street, Mongkok was their only or principal residential address.
The occupant of the address confirmed that the flat had been used for operating his business, and that he did not know the defendants. In fact, they resided outside the constituency at that time.
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.
Five other co-defendants charged in the same case earlier each pleaded guilty to a similar voting offence, and were each jailed for two months.
So far, a total of 44 persons, including the above seven defendants, have been convicted of charges of voting-rigging, providing false information in the registration of elector and conspiracy to defraud in relation to the DC Election.
Of them, 34 pleaded guilty to their respective charges and 10 were found guilty after trial. They were given sentences ranging from community service to one year in jail, with two awaiting sentencing.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Florrie Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Chris Ng.
Leung Li-fung, 46, a hawker, and Tai Lai-yee, 26, a customer service officer, were earlier each found guilty of 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 Ille gal Conduct) Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen said custodial sentences were appropriate for the defendants as vote-rigging was a “very serious” offence.
The magistrate added that after taking into account all mitigating factors of the defendants, he considered no exceptional circumstances were involved in the case warranting a reduction in their custodial sentences.
Upon their applications, the magistrate granted the defendants cash bail of $2,000 each, pending their appeals. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents and not to leave Hong Kong.
The court heard that on July 16, 2011, the defendants submitted to the Registration and Electoral Office their applications for registration as electors at the 2011 Yau Tsim Mong DC Election (King’s Park Constituency).
In their applications, the defendants stated that a flat in Foo Tat Building, 50 Soy Street, Mongkok was their only or principal residential address.
The occupant of the address confirmed that the flat had been used for operating his business, and that he did not know the defendants. In fact, they resided outside the constituency at that time.
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.
Five other co-defendants charged in the same case earlier each pleaded guilty to a similar voting offence, and were each jailed for two months.
So far, a total of 44 persons, including the above seven defendants, have been convicted of charges of voting-rigging, providing false information in the registration of elector and conspiracy to defraud in relation to the DC Election.
Of them, 34 pleaded guilty to their respective charges and 10 were found guilty after trial. They were given sentences ranging from community service to one year in jail, with two awaiting sentencing.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Florrie Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Chris Ng.