Defence lawyer accused of neglect as jailed former Wan Chai police chief appeals
A defence lawyer failed to challenge the contents of restaurant bills which landed a former Wan Chai divisional police commander in jail for misconduct in public office two years ago, the High Court heard.
A defence lawyer failed to challenge the contents of restaurant bills which landed a former Wan Chai divisional police commander in jail for misconduct in public office two years ago, the High Court heard on Monday.
Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung is accused of neglecting his duties when he represented superintendent Titus Wong Koon-ho in his trial at the Eastern Court. Wong was jailed in 2013 for one year for receiving discounts and whisky worth HK$5,500 from a Causeway Bay restaurant in exchange for turning a blind eye to it serving alcohol without a licence.
Luk was called to give evidence in Wong’s appeal, in which he is represented by veteran criminal barrister Lawrence Lok Ying-kam SC.
“The crux of the case is the bills which proved that [Wong] received the benefits. If you didn’t challenge the bills, what would you have challenged?” deputy High Court judge Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing asked Luk during his cross-examination by Lok.
Woo said that the court would rule if Luk’s legal representation was involved any carelessness – and if such carelessness would have constituted negligence of his duties, and resulted in an unfair trial.
The Eastern Court had previously heard that Wong was responsible for advising the Liquor Licensing Board on whether to grant licences when he received the discounts from the Chen Teen Bistro.
Wong later approved the restaurant’s licence application, despite knowing it had served alcohol illegally. He even drank alcohol there when it had no licence.
The appeal hearing continues this afternoon.
