Four jailed for perverting public justice and possessing dangerous drugs
2017-11-29
Four persons, charged by the ICAC, were today (November 29) sentenced to jail terms up to 21 months at the District Court for their respective roles in conspiracy to pervert public justice in a criminal intimidation case and possessing dangerous drugs.
Cheng Wai-man, 37, received a jail term of 21 months, while Chan Kwok-hung, 43, was jailed for 13 months and two weeks. Chan Ka-yan, 27, and Chan Po-yu, 54, were each sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Mr Raymond Wong Kwok-fai said Cheng Wai-man deserved a jail term longer than that of co-defendants as he was the instigator of the conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice and possessed dangerous drugs.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to Common Law and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, while Cheng Wai-man alone admitted a charge of possession of dangerous drugs, contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that on December 16, 2014, Cheng Wai-man wielded a knife and intimidated Chan Ka-yan and her friend in the corridor outside the latter’s unit in Tai Hing Estate, Tuen Mun.
Chan Ka-yan fled into her unit, and made a report to the Police. Cheng Wai-man was arrested by the Police, and charged with two counts of criminal intimidation.
After appearing at the Tuen Mun Magistracy on May 11, 2015, he was remanded in the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) pending further enquiries.
Upon legal advice, a Detective Police Constable (DPC) approached Chan Ka-yan, who was serving her custodial sentence in the Nei Kwu Correctional Institute (NKCI) for another unrelated case, to ascertain her willingness to testify in court against Cheng Wai-man.
When approached by the DPC, Chan Ka-yan said she was unwilling to testify against Cheng Wai-man in court as she could not recollect the incident due to the lapse of time.
ICAC enquiries revealed that at the material time, Cheng Wai-man instructed Chan Kwok-hung and Chan Po-yu to relay his message to Chan Ka-yan that he would offer a few thousand dollars to her if she agreed not to testify against him in court.
Chan Kwok-hung and Chan Po-yu relayed Cheng Wai-man’s offer to Chow Ka-man, who subsequently told Chan Ka-yan of the offer. In reply, Chan Ka-yan asked Chow Ka-man to collect the payment from Cheng Wai-man.
The court heard that on January 19, 2016, Cheng Wai-man was intercepted and arrested by the ICAC. Cheng Wai-man was escorted to his home in Fu Tai Estate, Tuen Mun, where he was found to have possessed 1.92 grammes of methamphetamine hydrochloride (commonly known as “ice”).
Chow Ka-man, 21, who was also charged by the ICAC for her role in the case, earlier pleaded guilty to the same charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. She was remanded until December 18 this year for sentence, pending probation and community service order reports.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Fung Lee.
Cheng Wai-man, 37, received a jail term of 21 months, while Chan Kwok-hung, 43, was jailed for 13 months and two weeks. Chan Ka-yan, 27, and Chan Po-yu, 54, were each sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Mr Raymond Wong Kwok-fai said Cheng Wai-man deserved a jail term longer than that of co-defendants as he was the instigator of the conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice and possessed dangerous drugs.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to Common Law and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, while Cheng Wai-man alone admitted a charge of possession of dangerous drugs, contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that on December 16, 2014, Cheng Wai-man wielded a knife and intimidated Chan Ka-yan and her friend in the corridor outside the latter’s unit in Tai Hing Estate, Tuen Mun.
Chan Ka-yan fled into her unit, and made a report to the Police. Cheng Wai-man was arrested by the Police, and charged with two counts of criminal intimidation.
After appearing at the Tuen Mun Magistracy on May 11, 2015, he was remanded in the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) pending further enquiries.
Upon legal advice, a Detective Police Constable (DPC) approached Chan Ka-yan, who was serving her custodial sentence in the Nei Kwu Correctional Institute (NKCI) for another unrelated case, to ascertain her willingness to testify in court against Cheng Wai-man.
When approached by the DPC, Chan Ka-yan said she was unwilling to testify against Cheng Wai-man in court as she could not recollect the incident due to the lapse of time.
ICAC enquiries revealed that at the material time, Cheng Wai-man instructed Chan Kwok-hung and Chan Po-yu to relay his message to Chan Ka-yan that he would offer a few thousand dollars to her if she agreed not to testify against him in court.
Chan Kwok-hung and Chan Po-yu relayed Cheng Wai-man’s offer to Chow Ka-man, who subsequently told Chan Ka-yan of the offer. In reply, Chan Ka-yan asked Chow Ka-man to collect the payment from Cheng Wai-man.
The court heard that on January 19, 2016, Cheng Wai-man was intercepted and arrested by the ICAC. Cheng Wai-man was escorted to his home in Fu Tai Estate, Tuen Mun, where he was found to have possessed 1.92 grammes of methamphetamine hydrochloride (commonly known as “ice”).
Chow Ka-man, 21, who was also charged by the ICAC for her role in the case, earlier pleaded guilty to the same charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. She was remanded until December 18 this year for sentence, pending probation and community service order reports.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Fung Lee.