Jockey Club members sentenced for fraud over membership scams
2013-1-4
An honorary voting member and a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), charged by the ICAC, were today (Friday) sentenced at the District Court for their respective roles in fraud scams over the applications for the racing membership of HKJC.
Stanley Lawrence Freedman, 84, an honorary voting member of HKJC, received a jail term of nine months, while To Wing, 64, a member of HKJC, was jailed for six months. They had their jail terms suspended for two years.
In sentencing, Judge Kevin Browne remarked that the offences committed by the defendants had prejudiced the interests of HKJC and compromised the integrity of its membership system.
Freedman and To were earlier found guilty of a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. Freedman alone was also convicted of a similar charge.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that between January and March 2009, Freedman and To conspired to defraud HKJC in relation to an application for the racing membership from the son of a merchant.
Under the arrangement of a middleman, the son of the merchant met Freedman at the latter’s home in mid January 2009 as an applicant. About a week later, the applicant obtained an application form signed by Freedman.
In the application form, Freedman falsely stated his acquaintance with the applicant, their respective length of acquaintance and respective nature of relationship with him.
In late February, To supported the application by falsely representing his acquaintance with the applicant.
Between September 2009 and January 2010, Freedman and other persons conspired to defraud HKJC in relation to another application for the racing membership by using a similar fraudulent means, the court was told.
HKJC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Counsel Adrian Bell and Public Prosecutor Jonathan Lin, assisted by ICAC officer Ronald Chan.
Stanley Lawrence Freedman, 84, an honorary voting member of HKJC, received a jail term of nine months, while To Wing, 64, a member of HKJC, was jailed for six months. They had their jail terms suspended for two years.
In sentencing, Judge Kevin Browne remarked that the offences committed by the defendants had prejudiced the interests of HKJC and compromised the integrity of its membership system.
Freedman and To were earlier found guilty of a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. Freedman alone was also convicted of a similar charge.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that between January and March 2009, Freedman and To conspired to defraud HKJC in relation to an application for the racing membership from the son of a merchant.
Under the arrangement of a middleman, the son of the merchant met Freedman at the latter’s home in mid January 2009 as an applicant. About a week later, the applicant obtained an application form signed by Freedman.
In the application form, Freedman falsely stated his acquaintance with the applicant, their respective length of acquaintance and respective nature of relationship with him.
In late February, To supported the application by falsely representing his acquaintance with the applicant.
Between September 2009 and January 2010, Freedman and other persons conspired to defraud HKJC in relation to another application for the racing membership by using a similar fraudulent means, the court was told.
HKJC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Counsel Adrian Bell and Public Prosecutor Jonathan Lin, assisted by ICAC officer Ronald Chan.