13 men in court on child-porn charges
Company directors, analysts, a bank worker and a technician were among those arrested in huge police operation
Thirteen men appeared in various courts across Hong Kong to face child pornography charges yesterday, including a technician with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD).
The men were arrested on Monday in the largest police operation against child pornography since the Prevention of Child Pornography Ordinance came into force last year.
The defendants, aged between 23 and 51, appeared in Eastern, Sha Tin, Kwun Tong, Kowloon City and Tsuen Wan courts charged with possession of child pornography. No pleas were taken.
The defendants were company directors Justin Yves Herbonnet, 32, and Gerald Ngai Cheuk-lun, 39; financial analyst Simon Cheng Siu-lun, 25; systems analyst Sanly Chow Wai-yung, 41; AFCD senior animal health technician Dennis Ng Dean-yew, 46; waiter Sam Ma Chi-sum, 28; dim sum worker Ho Man-kit, 34; salesman Chan Yiu-kei, 23; clerk Addie Lin Chun-kwok, 32; Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals veterinary assistant Surasak Calvin Netraprajag, 25; bank fraud control manager Tsang Kwok-hin, 37; sales representative Ho Wing-lun, 23; and investment analyst Cheng Siu-ming, 51.
All the defendants were released on bail.
The men were among 18 people arrested in Operation Stormrider. The other five men have been released on $5,000 bail and must report back to police next month.
Twelve of the 13 defendants in court yesterday were charged with possessing digital child pornography files stored on computers.
The other defendant, Herbonnet, a Dutch resident of Hong Kong, is accused of possessing six photographs depicting child pornography and images of child pornography stored on video compact disc, CD-Rom and a computer.
The prosecution said the pornographic materials were seized in residential premises on The Peak and in Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Sha Tin, Wong Tai Sin, Yau Ma Tei, To Kwa Wan, Kwai Chung, Chai Wan, Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, and Tsuen Wan.
In Eastern Court, prosecutor Abby Chung Kin-yee applied to adjourn five of the defendants' cases pending examination of forensic evidence.
Ms Chung said the prosecution had to find out whether the defendants had passed any child pornography on to other people.
Lawyer Michael Vidler, for Herbonnet, told Eastern Court Principal Magistrate Ian Candy that the police investigation had generated much media attention, but the court proceedings should concentrate only on the 'cold facts'.
The 13 defendants were granted cash bail of $5,000 to $50,000.
Their cases were adjourned until June 2.
