US prosecutors demand ex-Hong Kong minister Patrick Ho be denied bail
They argue in a letter to the presiding judge that Ho – who faces bribery and money laundering charges in New York – presents ‘an extreme risk of flight’
US prosecutors have objected to a second bail application from former Hong Kong senior official Patrick Ho Chi-ping, saying “stronger evidence” has been collected since his arrest in November on bribery charges.
They also argued in a nine-page letter to the presiding judge on Thursday that Ho – with reported assets of up to US$8 million – presented “an extreme risk of flight”. Ho was to have his second appearance in court for his bail appeal on Monday at noon New York time.
“Ho is a wealthy, sophisticated businessman with deep connections in China, no current [or even recent] ties to the United States, no property or other assets in the United States, the means to flee, the incentive to flee and close ties to powerful foreign individuals. He presents a severe risk to flight,” the letter read.
Ho, former home affairs secretary in Hong Kong, has been in custody in New York since last November when he was indicted by the Southern District of New York. He faces eight bribery and money laundering charges related to pay-offs to government officials in Africa on behalf of a Chinese oil and gas company.