Hong Kong radio host convicted over plan to pay localists to win votes in district council elections
District Court hears that groups were offered HK$850,000 to sway results, one of which involved veteran Frederick Fung’s loss in a closely fought race
An online radio host who offered localist groups more than HK$850,000 for each of them to win 200 votes in specified constituencies during last November’s District Council polls was convicted on Monday.
The District Court heard that the targeted constituencies, which numbered about 10, included Lai Kok in Sham Shui Po, where long-time councillor Frederick Fung Kin-kee lost his seat in a heated competition.
The scheme came to light when Leung publicised a recording of his meeting with Cheng, as he believed the waiter was trying to take votes from certain candidates in order to hand victory to their opponents.
Before Cheng was arrested in September last year, he convinced renovation worker Ku Ka-ho, 32, founder of political group All People Spontaneous, to pocket HK$36,000 for merchant Chan Kin-loong, 37, to stand as a candidate.
All three were convicted by district judge Pang Chung-ping of conspiracy to engage in corrupt conduct at an election. Cheng was found guilty of six additional counts of engaging in corrupt conduct.