Prison guard 'accepted HK$200,000'
A prison guard accepted what he believed was HK$200,000 from a woman graft-buster, believing she was the wife of a prisoner seeking help with an early-release application, a court heard yesterday.
Correctional services officer Lee Yee-tak, 51, pleaded not guilty in the District Court to two charges of soliciting an advantage and one charge of accepting an advantage.
Prosecuting barrister Suen Kam-hee said Lee told an inmate at Stanley Prison on January 10 that he could help with the release application if the prisoner gave him HK$300,000. On January 30, he asked for HK$200,000.
Mr Suen said the prisoner, who had started serving a 12-year jail term in 2003, told Lee that all his money was kept by his wife.
'Lee gave his mobile number to the prisoner and said the prisoner's wife could contact him with this number,' he said. The prisoner reported the case to Independent Commission Against Corruption.
A week later the female ICAC officer, impersonating the prisoner's wife, called Lee on his mobile phone and proposed a meeting, the court was told.
The ICAC officer met Lee in Central on the same day and Lee accepted an envelope containing real and fake cash to the value of $200,000. The meeting was recorded and Lee was later arrested.
Deputy District Judge Sham Siu-man adjourned the case to Monday. Lee, who has been suspended from his job, was released on bail.
