CY Leung, ICAC head ‘won't testify in Lew trial’

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and the head of the anti-graft body are not on the witness list for the trial of prominent businessman Lew Mon-hung, a source close to the case says.

Lew, a one-time Leung ally, appeared in Eastern Court yesterday accused of trying to pervert the course of justice. He did not enter a plea before Principal Magistrate Bina Chainrai.

Lew, 64, a former member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was freed on HK$200,000 bail after prosecutor Jonathan Lin Po-hei asked for a two-week adjournment.

Outside court, Lew would not comment on the case. But, quoting Qing dynasty official Lin Zexu, he said: "History will be the judge of right and wrong". And, quoting the nation's late president Liu Shaoqi, he said: "The good thing is that history is written by the people."

The court heard Lew, former deputy chairman and executive director of Pearl Oriental Oil, sent two e-mails and a letter to Leung and Simon Peh Yun-lu - head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption - trying to get them to stop an ICAC investigation against him or others because of his past association with Leung.

The alleged offences took place on January 9 and 10.