Five accused of plot to kill casino chip dealer on triad boss' orders
Five alleged Wo Hop To triad members went on trial yesterday accused of taking part in a murder plot their boss ordered against a gaming chip dealer whose customer had won billions of dollars in Macau casinos.
The Court of First Instance heard that a sixth member decided against joining in and tipped off police.
They then raided a Yuen Long village house where they found a big weapons cache. The defendants were arrested on May 15 last year.
The informer has been given immunity to testify for the prosecution.
See Wah-lun, 30, Tang Ka-man, 31, Wong Chi-man, 26, Yeung Chun-kit, 22, and Chan Ho-leung, 35, have been charged with being triad members and conspiring to cause grievous bodily harm between April and May last year.
See, a senior member of the group, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder with a person known as 'Tsang Pau' , believed to be an even higher-ranking member of the triad. He is also charged with soliciting nine people, including the four other defendants and the witness, to murder.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
Senior public prosecutor Simon Tam Man-fai said in his opening address that the target of the plot was chip dealer Wong Kam-ming.
Tam said 'Tsang Pau' had declared in April last year that he wanted to abduct Wong Kam-ming on May 15 when Wong was to attend Pat Heung police station to meet bail conditions. He also wanted his arms and legs broken.
But 'Tsang Pau' changed his mind in early May, saying he wanted Wong Kam-ming taken to an unknown place and killed.
The prosecutor said 'Tsang Pau' operated a gambling hall in a Macau casino to which Wong Ka-ming had once brought a customer.
The customer, Siu Yun-ping, had won billions of dollars in Macau casinos, including Tsang's, within a couple of months in late 2007.
Tam said Siu had been attacked on the mainland after winning the money. He said the reason for the killing was unknown to the followers.
Police heard of the plot when Lau Ming-yee decided to expose it.
According to the prosecutor, Lau, now 24, had been a follower of See since he was 17.
He is expected to give evidence about group gatherings with 'Tsang Pau' at a car park in Yuen Long where he worked last year.
The car park was operated by Tang and Chan. Lau also worked there last year.
Tam said Lau wanted to quit the plan because his girlfriend was pregnant and he disagreed with killing. Lau's information led to the arrest of 10 men at a Yuen Long house on May 15. Inside, police found weapons including three choppers, a Japanese knife, stun guns and handcuffs.
The hearing before Mrs Justice Verina Bokhary will continue on Monday.
