Hong Kong court warns two policemen accused of leaking murder case details not to interfere
Magistrate says duo and businessman, who they gave information to and who they knew would pass it on to the suspects, must not interfere with prosecution witnesses in the case
Two policemen accused of leaking information on a murder case to a businessman – despite knowing that he would pass it on to the murder suspects – were warned by a magistrate on Thursday not to interfere with key figures involved in the case.
Policeman Lee Yuen-fook, 47, station sergeant Yip Kwok-leung, 50, and businessman Hung Wai-ming, 46, made their first court appearance at Kowloon City Court on Thursday, two days after they were charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
“You shall not interfere directly or indirectly [in the affairs of] the prosecution witnesses,” Magistrate Amy Chan Wai-mum told the trio, before adjourning the case to January 19.
Their case will be transferred to the District Court, a higher-level court, next month.
Lee and Yip face a joint charge of misconduct in public office, while Hung, operator of a metallic engineering company, is charged with aiding, abetting, counselling and procuring misconduct in public office. All three have not made a plea.
Between October 8, 2014, and June 7 last year, the two policemen allegedly obtained confidential information about the murder of Hong Kong man Wong Man-kin. They then allegedly gave the details to Hung, knowing that he would pass the information on to the two suspects.
It is also believed that they had discussed the strength of the evidence with Hung, so the suspects could be given advice on how to behave during police investigations. The officers are also accused of requesting money as a reward.
Hung was allegedly responsible for urging them to carry out the act.
