A surgeon charged over a Hong Kong Jockey Club membership scam walked free yesterday and will testify against one of the nine co-accused in the 2009 fraud, the District Court heard.
David Ho Wai-tak, a 69-year-old surgeon, horse owner and a voting Jockey Club member, was spared prosecution on one count of conspiracy to defraud, but his charge will remain on the court file.
Two other defendants, Ho Wai-shek and Dipo Chandiram Sani, a well-known member of the Indian community, also walked free after no evidence was presented against them.
Cheng Huan, SC, representing David Ho, said his client had given a non-prejudicial statement to the Independent Commission Against Corruption and would testify against 63-year-old To Wing, if necessary.
Ho's wife, Doris Ho Ko Suet-yiu, is a former secretary for health and welfare and his daughter Johanna Ho Chi-yan is a fashion designer.
Ho Wai-shek, and Dipo were accused of conspiring in 2010 with members Robert Ng Ka-ki - also known as Robert Woo - John Douglas Mackie and Tong Kam-pui to defraud the club by falsely claiming they personally knew Daniel Fung Yiu-man in a membership form.
Fung was an undercover officer with the ICAC, posing as the boss of a red wine trader.