Hong Kong Jails Man for 3 Years for Part in Martin Lee Plot
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By Sophie Leung
July 6 (Bloomberg) -- Ho Wai-kam, who testified against a Chinese national jailed for plotting to shoot former Hong Kong Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee, was jailed today for 3 years for possessing a firearm without a license.
Ho admitted carrying a pistol and bullets from mainland China into Hong Kong and passing them to Huang Nanhua, Deputy High Court Judge Peter Line said in court today. Ho’s cooperation and testimony against Huang was considered, with the offence bearing a possible 12-year jail term, Line said.
Huang, convicted on a charge of “carrying arms and ammunition with intent to commit an arrestable offense,” was sentenced to 16 years in jail by a seven-member jury July 3. He was arrested in August with a homemade pistol, ammunition, and the addresses of Lee’s office and favorite restaurants. He was also carrying a photo and the home address of Jimmy Lai, a friend of Lee.
Lee and Lai are known for being critical of China’s government and of the ruling Communist Party’s stance on the 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. Both have said they were unaware of reasons why anyone would plot against them.
Hong Kong pro-democracy advocate and lawyer Albert Ho suffered a broken nose and detached retina after being attacked in August 2006 by three men carrying truncheons and baseball bats. In 2002, two people died in separate execution-style killings in Hong Kong, one being gunned down as he ate breakfast in the city’s Luk Yu teahouse.
The case is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region v. Ho Wai-kam, HCCC11/2009, Hong Kong Court of First Instance.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sophie Leung in Hong Kong at [email protected]
Last Updated: July 5, 2009 23:57 EDT
Share | Email | Print | A A A
By Sophie Leung
July 6 (Bloomberg) -- Ho Wai-kam, who testified against a Chinese national jailed for plotting to shoot former Hong Kong Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee, was jailed today for 3 years for possessing a firearm without a license.
Ho admitted carrying a pistol and bullets from mainland China into Hong Kong and passing them to Huang Nanhua, Deputy High Court Judge Peter Line said in court today. Ho’s cooperation and testimony against Huang was considered, with the offence bearing a possible 12-year jail term, Line said.
Huang, convicted on a charge of “carrying arms and ammunition with intent to commit an arrestable offense,” was sentenced to 16 years in jail by a seven-member jury July 3. He was arrested in August with a homemade pistol, ammunition, and the addresses of Lee’s office and favorite restaurants. He was also carrying a photo and the home address of Jimmy Lai, a friend of Lee.
Lee and Lai are known for being critical of China’s government and of the ruling Communist Party’s stance on the 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square. Both have said they were unaware of reasons why anyone would plot against them.
Hong Kong pro-democracy advocate and lawyer Albert Ho suffered a broken nose and detached retina after being attacked in August 2006 by three men carrying truncheons and baseball bats. In 2002, two people died in separate execution-style killings in Hong Kong, one being gunned down as he ate breakfast in the city’s Luk Yu teahouse.
The case is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region v. Ho Wai-kam, HCCC11/2009, Hong Kong Court of First Instance.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sophie Leung in Hong Kong at [email protected]
Last Updated: July 5, 2009 23:57 EDT
