Long road

January 2005 Social Welfare Department refers case to Commercial Crime Bureau for investigation

October 3 Couple deny fraud charges in Tsuen Wan Court

January 23, 2006 Trial scheduled to start but defence applies for adjournment, citing psychiatric report that judge's wife suffers dementia

June 26 Husband is admitted to hospital with a heart problem and pneumonia; trial is adjourned

October 16 Trial is delayed after wife suffers fall at home and is admitted to hospital

October 18 Trial begins

January 12, 2007 Magistrate convicts both, with husband in hospital again

January 26 Magistrate imposes 11-month jail term and refuses bail

January 27 Bail application is filed pending High Court appeal

March 13 Bail is refused

March 19 Husband is convicted of contempt of court for refusing to identify official who allegedly told him not to return to Hong Kong before his fraud case started. He is sentenced to one month in jail

May 25 Mr Justice John Saunders of the Court of First Instance releases the couple