The trial that sentenced the founder of debt-chasing website 99world.com Charlie Choi Kei Ian for violating the personal data protection law and aggravated disobedience is at risk of being annulled and retried, Business Daily understands. Having had their names published on the website created by the operator of Wonderful Word, Charlie Choi, as debtors, Lai Man Kuk, Lai Changtu and Ng Yuen Kwan have filed both civil and criminal complaints against Mr. Choi for different reasons, including libel. During the first session of the trial, Lai Man Kuk, Lai Changtu and Ng Yuen Kwan were informed that their complaints would have to be heard in a different case because it would require a private accusation. Upon learning that their case was not going to be included in the case started by the Office for Personal Data Protection (GPDP), Lai Man Kuk, Lai Changtu and Ng Yuen Kwan decided to appeal for the trial to be annulled, Business Daily understands. Mr. Lai Man Kuk, Mr. Lai Changtu and Mr. Ng consider that their complaints are part of the case against Charlie Choi and as such their accusations should have been handled in the trial that judged the Public Prosecutor’s accusations. For this reason, they are asking for the trial to be retried and to include their accusations. The three persons, whose names were published on the debt-chasing website, are now awaiting a decision. If the decision is in their favour, the trial that ruled Charlie Choi guilty of violating the personal data protection law and aggravated disobedience will have to be retried from the beginning. However if their appeal is denied Mr. Lai Man Kuk, Mr. Lai Changtu and Mr. Ng do not exclude the possibility of starting a new case against the operator and founder of the website. Mr. Choi was convicted by the Court of First Instance for violating the personal data protection law and aggravated disobedience on April 30. He received a 2-year suspended sentence of six months in jail but at the end of the trial he denied being the owner of the website. Choi also told the press that he would appeal the sentence as he was innocent. The 99world.com website – branded ‘Wonderful World’ – discloses debtors’ personal information including their photograph, name, nationality and the amount of debt owed to the casinos. The website was launched in August 2013 and remained operational until last week, despite local police ordering it be taken down.
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