Last defendant in sentence reduction perversion case admits role
2026-7-7
An ICAC investigation earlier revealed that an inmate of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) conspired with others to plot two crimes to facilitate sentence reduction applications for other inmates by tipping off the Police about the planned crimes. Early intervention by the Commission successfully intercepted these planned crimes involving possession of unlawful arms, explosives or drugs, leading to the prosecution of five individuals. While four of them were jailed following their guilty pleas, the last defendant today (July 7) admitted at the District Court that she had laundered crime proceeds.
Cheng Lok-lam, 27, earlier pleaded not guilty to one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence (commonly known as money laundering), contrary to section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The trial was originally scheduled for yesterday (6 July), but Cheng entered a guilty plea today. Deputy Judge Mr Li Chi-ho adjourned the case until tomorrow (July 8) for mitigation and continued to grant her bail.
The four co-defendants were Sammy Wong Kok-sum, then inmate of LCKRC; his girlfriend Lau Chun-yee and his two other associates Kwan Yu-hin and Wan Chin-pang. The four defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of four charges – two of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, one of money laundering and one of failing to surrender to custody without reasonable cause. They were respectively sentenced to jail terms ranging from one year to three years and six weeks.
The case stemmed from a corruption investigation by the ICAC. Between September 2021 and May 2022, Wong was an inmate incarcerated in LCKRC of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) where he met two other inmates who were respectively involved in a robbery case and a dangerous drugs trafficking case. Both cases were pending mention at the High Court at that time.
The court heard that Wong told his girlfriend Lau and other associates that he had devised a plan to stage two crimes so that the two inmates could provide relevant information to the Police, leading to successful closure of the cases and facilitating the inmates’ applications for sentence reduction in their respective court proceedings. Family members of the two inmates paid Wong $250,000 and $1.25 million respectively.
Upon Wong’s instruction, Lau and Kwan subsequently orchestrated the scam and liaised with the concerned parties. The duo prepared to buy an illegal air gun with high energy output and obtained guide on making explosives to prepare explosives. In addition, they planned to conceal those unlawful articles at a premises and arrange for a scapegoat to be arrested by the Police there. The ICAC’s early intervention successfully stopped the two pre-arranged crimes.
Wan and Cheng handled a sum of about $320,000, part of the money paid by one of the inmates’ family members for coordinating one of the cases.
On July 8, 2025, Wong failed to attend court for mention and a warrant for his arrest was issued by the District Court. He was subsequently arrested and charged with failing to surrender to custody without reasonable cause.
The CSD and the Police rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Noelle Aileen Chit, assisted by ICAC officer Dirk Cheung.
Cheng Lok-lam, 27, earlier pleaded not guilty to one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence (commonly known as money laundering), contrary to section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The trial was originally scheduled for yesterday (6 July), but Cheng entered a guilty plea today. Deputy Judge Mr Li Chi-ho adjourned the case until tomorrow (July 8) for mitigation and continued to grant her bail.
The four co-defendants were Sammy Wong Kok-sum, then inmate of LCKRC; his girlfriend Lau Chun-yee and his two other associates Kwan Yu-hin and Wan Chin-pang. The four defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of four charges – two of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, one of money laundering and one of failing to surrender to custody without reasonable cause. They were respectively sentenced to jail terms ranging from one year to three years and six weeks.
The case stemmed from a corruption investigation by the ICAC. Between September 2021 and May 2022, Wong was an inmate incarcerated in LCKRC of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) where he met two other inmates who were respectively involved in a robbery case and a dangerous drugs trafficking case. Both cases were pending mention at the High Court at that time.
The court heard that Wong told his girlfriend Lau and other associates that he had devised a plan to stage two crimes so that the two inmates could provide relevant information to the Police, leading to successful closure of the cases and facilitating the inmates’ applications for sentence reduction in their respective court proceedings. Family members of the two inmates paid Wong $250,000 and $1.25 million respectively.
Upon Wong’s instruction, Lau and Kwan subsequently orchestrated the scam and liaised with the concerned parties. The duo prepared to buy an illegal air gun with high energy output and obtained guide on making explosives to prepare explosives. In addition, they planned to conceal those unlawful articles at a premises and arrange for a scapegoat to be arrested by the Police there. The ICAC’s early intervention successfully stopped the two pre-arranged crimes.
Wan and Cheng handled a sum of about $320,000, part of the money paid by one of the inmates’ family members for coordinating one of the cases.
On July 8, 2025, Wong failed to attend court for mention and a warrant for his arrest was issued by the District Court. He was subsequently arrested and charged with failing to surrender to custody without reasonable cause.
The CSD and the Police rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Noelle Aileen Chit, assisted by ICAC officer Dirk Cheung.