Rafael Hui trial revealed rotten heart of Hong Kong government, says prosecutor
Payments to former chief secretary by tycoon brothers had ‘all the hallmarks of a bribe’, prosecutors says in summing up at graft trial
That Rafael Hui Si-yan could pocket millions of dollars from the Kwok brothers of Sun Hung Kai Properties showed the Hong Kong government was "rotten" at its core, the prosecution said yesterday, summing up the evidence of graft in the trial of the former chief secretary.
In a nutshell, the eight charges against the five defendants constituted a "simple case of misconduct in public office" and business-government collusion, lead prosecutor David Perry QC said.
[Hui] needed money to fund his immoderate and luxurious lifestyle
The case had "all the hallmarks of a bribe" that originated from SHKP co-chairmen Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen for getting Hui to be their "eyes and ears" in government, Perry said.
Describing Hui as "hopelessly compromised", he said: "There was something rotten at the heart of the government of Hong Kong.
"[Hui] put his own private interest before his public duty. It is about collusion between business and government. The prosecution has to say with regret the defendants have told lies."
But he reminded the jury not to judge Hui on moral grounds.
"He needed money to fund his immoderate and luxurious lifestyle - [but] that's not a criticism, that's not a moral judgment. [He] is not on trial for his love of gourmet food, fine wine, or companionship of women."