Policemen and businessman jailed for conspiracy to commit MIPO over murder case
2018-2-14
Two police officers and a businessman, charged by the ICAC, were today (February 14) sentenced to jail terms up to three years at the District Court for conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office (MIPO) in relation to a murder case under investigation by the Police.
Lee Yuen-fook, 49, Police Constable, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, while Yip Kwok-leung, 51, Police Station Sergeant, was jailed for two years and six months. Hung Wai-ming, 47, businessman, received a jail term of two years and three months.
In sentencing, Judge Eddie Yip Chor-man said the offence committed by the defendants was serious in nature and the monetary rewards they received for divulging confidential information could be regarded as bribes.
Lee, Yip and Hung were earlier found guilty of a joint charge of conspiracy to commit MIPO, contrary to Common Law and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, Lee was a Police Constable attached to Tin Shui Wai Division, while Yip was a Station Sergeant attached to Kowloon City District. Hung was the sole director of a private company.
On October 5, 2014, a man was stabbed and suffered a severe head injury in a gang fight in Tsim Sha Tsui. He died two days later. The murder case was initially investigated by a team of the District Anti-Triad Section of Yau Tsim District of the Police. It was later taken over by a team of the Regional Crime Unit of Kowloon West Regional Headquarters.
Lee and Yip were never assigned to take part in any stage of the investigation of the murder case.
The court heard that between October 8, 2014 and June 7, 2015, Lee, Yip and Hung conspired together with other unknown persons for Lee and Yip to procure and obtain confidential information of the Police investigation and divulge the confidential information to other persons, including Hung, without reasonable excuse or justification. In return, the trio was given monetary rewards amounting to $600,000.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Derek Lai and Senior Public Prosecutor William Siu, assisted by ICAC officer Jason See.
Lee Yuen-fook, 49, Police Constable, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, while Yip Kwok-leung, 51, Police Station Sergeant, was jailed for two years and six months. Hung Wai-ming, 47, businessman, received a jail term of two years and three months.
In sentencing, Judge Eddie Yip Chor-man said the offence committed by the defendants was serious in nature and the monetary rewards they received for divulging confidential information could be regarded as bribes.
Lee, Yip and Hung were earlier found guilty of a joint charge of conspiracy to commit MIPO, contrary to Common Law and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, Lee was a Police Constable attached to Tin Shui Wai Division, while Yip was a Station Sergeant attached to Kowloon City District. Hung was the sole director of a private company.
On October 5, 2014, a man was stabbed and suffered a severe head injury in a gang fight in Tsim Sha Tsui. He died two days later. The murder case was initially investigated by a team of the District Anti-Triad Section of Yau Tsim District of the Police. It was later taken over by a team of the Regional Crime Unit of Kowloon West Regional Headquarters.
Lee and Yip were never assigned to take part in any stage of the investigation of the murder case.
The court heard that between October 8, 2014 and June 7, 2015, Lee, Yip and Hung conspired together with other unknown persons for Lee and Yip to procure and obtain confidential information of the Police investigation and divulge the confidential information to other persons, including Hung, without reasonable excuse or justification. In return, the trio was given monetary rewards amounting to $600,000.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Derek Lai and Senior Public Prosecutor William Siu, assisted by ICAC officer Jason See.