Two men claim trial for dealing in illegal cable television set-top boxes

[ZhuRong]

Two men claim trial for dealing in illegal cable television set-top boxes

Published on Jun 18, 2014 3:47 PM

Daniel Chen Wenqiang (left) and Foo Yong Chun have been charged with attempting to sell two hundred and thirty-three digital set-up boxes which they claimed they did not know were illegal. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW/PHOTO: COURTESY OF STARHUB

By Lim Yan Liang

SINGAPORE - Two men who have been charged for dealing in illegal cable television set-top boxes have indicated that they may claim trial.

Daniel Chen Wenqiang, 32, and Shaun Foo Yong Chun, 27, both sent lawyer's letters to StarHub last week claiming that they did not know the digital set-top boxes they were selling were illegal.

The set-top boxes purportedly allowed users to watch StarHub's channels for free by decrypting its broadcast signals.

Both men were charged on May 7 following a raid last year of a storage facility in Tampines, where 233 such boxes were found. They both appeared in court briefly on Wednesday.

 

[Sinkie]

Good. Claim trial and get convicted more seriously.

 

[pheonix]

Good. Claim trial and get convicted more seriously.

why so? Judges have sentencing guidelines.

 

[ZhuRong]

Illegal TV set-top boxes: Accused back in court

Daniel Chen Wenqiang, 32 (left) and Shaun Foo Yong Chun, 27.

Lim Yan Liang
The Straits Times
Saturday, Jun 21, 2014

SINGAPORE - Two men who have been charged with dealing in illegal cable television set-top boxes were back in court yesterday with their lawyers, who asked for an adjournment to take instructions from their clients.

It is understood that Daniel Chen Wenqiang, 32, and Shaun Foo Yong Chun, 27, both sent lawyer's letters to StarHub last week claiming that they did not know they were dealing in illegal boxes.

The set-top boxes purportedly allowed users to watch StarHub's channels for free by decrypting its broadcast signals without authorisation.

The duo were charged on May 7 following a raid in September last year of a storage facility in Tampines where 233 such boxes were found.

Foo, who was found at the storage facility during the raid, faces two charges of importing and selling the set-top boxes, while Chen, who was the subscriber of three mobile phone numbers printed on fliers advertising the boxes, faces one charge of dealing in unauthorised decoders.

If found guilty of the offences under the Broadcasting Act, they each face up to three years' jail, a fine of up to $40,000, or both.

Both men will next appear in court on July 16.