Ho Chio Meng, former Prosecutor-general

First three witnesses heard

The first three of some expected 100 witnesses took the stand yesterday in the trial of the corruption case against former prosecutor-general Ho Chio Meng.
Businessmen Wong Kuok Wai, Mak Yim Tai and the former chief of the Public Prosecutor’s Office under the prosecutor-general, Antonio Lai Kin Ian were called to the stand for questions regarding the resting area on the 16th floor of the Hotline Building that was allegedly set up by Ho, and the relocation to his residence in Cheoc Van of the decorations made of valuable rosin wood seized by local Customs authorities.
These three witnesses are also part of the nine defendants involved in the same case, whose trials will start on February 17.
Defendants Wong and Mak – both currently being held in police custody – requested to postpone their testimonies for two and three days on the grounds that their lawyer had only been informed of the order for testimonies on Tuesday afternoon, and that therefore they had not had enough time to prepare their statements.
However, the judge presiding over the case, Justice Sam Hou Fai rejected the request, claiming the two would only be questioned on matters related to accusations against Ho.

Valuable wood
The hearing regarding the decorations made of rosin wood occupied most of yesterday’s trial. The former prosecutor-general was accused of moving the decorations, which had previously been seized by Customs in 2013, to the resting room area in the Hotline Building and to his residence in Cheoc Van.
Mr. Lai testified that the reason the decorations were moved to the prosecutor’s office was because the office had received a report saying it was required for the prosecutors to investigate the case.
“Does the department also request weapons used in murders, drugs or accident cars for inspection? I think you must have very little knowledge of the law to perform the actions you just said,” stated judge Lai Kin Hong.
“Thanks for pointing out my mistake, but after 15 years in the department, nobody has ever pointed out that these actions were incorrect,” responded Mr. Lai.
The former chief for the Office also defended himself by saying he was only following Ho’s orders for the relocation of the decorations, as well as for the signing of some contracts with the companies mentioned in the accusations.
He also pointed out there were at least three people working in the Prosecutor’s Office who had family ties with Wong and Mak at that time.

The resting area
Owning four management and decoration companies that are allegedly involved in the fraudulent contract outsourcing scheme in the case, Mr. Wong testified that he has known the ex-prosecutor-general since 2000.
He claimed that he had rented another unit on the 16th floor of the Hotline Building for his companies and he had been appointed to do the repair and maintenance work for the resting area.
Although he admitted that he had the keys for the resting area and had entered the area for cleaning purposes, Mr. Wong claimed he had only seen the ping pong table among the amenities mentioned in the accusations related to the area.
According to the accusations, the former prosecutor-general had allegedly earned illicit benefits from renting a few units on the 16th floor of the commercial building. These units were claimed to be for the use of the Prosecutor’s Office but were never used for such functions.
One of the units was allegedly used as a resting room for invited officers of the Office, and was equipped with a sauna, karaoke machine, ping pong table, exercise machines and a bar.
The area was kept secret from the majority of the employees of the Prosecutor’s Office, who were ordered not to enter the room.
Upon request from the case’s prosecutors, photos of the room were shown to Mr. Wong, but he said he had only seen the office materials and tables, and was not sure whether the amenities in the photos were from the resting area.
In addition, the prosecution also asked Mr. Wong about the allegations relating to Ho’s Cheoc Van residence, which was supposedly rented out to visiting guests to the MSAR, but was allegedly used by the former official as his private residence.
Admitting that he had conducted maintenance works in the unit, the witness denied that he was given the key to the residence, or that he had met the former official inside the unit.
Following Wong’s testimony, his business partner Mak was also questioned about his relationship with the ex-top prosecutor.
Claiming he has known the former official for more than 20 years, he said they only had an ‘ordinary friendship’ with each other.
According to Mr. Mak, he met the former prosecutor-general in the Hotline Building two times in 2013 and 2014 to discuss family issues. In addition, both of them knew the owner of the Cheoc Van residence.
The trial will continue tomorrow.