Second-hand harp buyer sentenced for impersonating C&E officer and blackmail
2019-10-15
A buyer of a second-hand harp, charged by the ICAC, was today (October 15) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistracy for impersonating an officer of the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) and blackmailing the vendor over the provision of a harp tuning key during the purchase of the musical instrument.
Lee Wai-kin, 33, sole proprietor of a piano school, was ordered by Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen to perform 80 hours of community service, and pay $200 as compensation to the vendor.
In sentencing, the principal magistrate reprimanded the defendant for impersonating a public officer and blackmailing so as to get what he wanted.
The principal magistrate added that it was appropriate to impose an 80-hour community service order on the defendant after considering his probation and community service order reports.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to two charges – one of falsely pretending to be a public officer, contrary to Section 22 of the Summary Offences Ordinance; and one of blackmail, contrary to Section 23(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that on January 16, 2019, the defendant visited a harp and piano school in Mongkok to purchase a second-hand harp from its sole proprietor at $12,500.
After payment was made, the defendant found that a tuning key was not included in the price. He became aggrieved despite the proprietor explained that the seller had never provided her with a tuning key.
The defendant stressed that he was a C&E officer and accused the proprietor of having breached the Trade Description Ordinance. He also said he would “charge” the proprietor if she failed to give him a tuning key.
Eventually, the proprietor provided the defendant with a new tuning key, worth $200, as she felt the defendant was exerting pressure on her. Two days later on January 18, 2019, she reported the incident to the C&E and the ICAC respectively.
The court heard that the C&E confirmed that the defendant had never been a C&E officer.
The C&E had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers May Lam and Edward Ho.
Lee Wai-kin, 33, sole proprietor of a piano school, was ordered by Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen to perform 80 hours of community service, and pay $200 as compensation to the vendor.
In sentencing, the principal magistrate reprimanded the defendant for impersonating a public officer and blackmailing so as to get what he wanted.
The principal magistrate added that it was appropriate to impose an 80-hour community service order on the defendant after considering his probation and community service order reports.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to two charges – one of falsely pretending to be a public officer, contrary to Section 22 of the Summary Offences Ordinance; and one of blackmail, contrary to Section 23(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that on January 16, 2019, the defendant visited a harp and piano school in Mongkok to purchase a second-hand harp from its sole proprietor at $12,500.
After payment was made, the defendant found that a tuning key was not included in the price. He became aggrieved despite the proprietor explained that the seller had never provided her with a tuning key.
The defendant stressed that he was a C&E officer and accused the proprietor of having breached the Trade Description Ordinance. He also said he would “charge” the proprietor if she failed to give him a tuning key.
Eventually, the proprietor provided the defendant with a new tuning key, worth $200, as she felt the defendant was exerting pressure on her. Two days later on January 18, 2019, she reported the incident to the C&E and the ICAC respectively.
The court heard that the C&E confirmed that the defendant had never been a C&E officer.
The C&E had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers May Lam and Edward Ho.