MOVIE boss Lee Sau-yin paid $5,000 'protection money' to blackmailers who threatened to wreck his camera equipment as he filmed on Lantau Island, the District Court heard. Mr Lee, owner of Magnum Films, was told he would be forced to stop work and his crew harassed unless he paid $20,000. Prosecutor Eddie Yip said Ng Man-wai, 24, and Fung Kai-kwong, 42, approached Wong Yun-lam, a production assistant, on December 1 last year and demanded $20,000 as tea money. The director told his production assistant to hand over $5,000, the court heard. Mr Lee said it was their first day shooting A Case of Cold Fish, and they planned to stay for nearly a month. But he said that two days later Ng and Fung demanded another $5,000. Mr Lee, famous for his police dramas, called in police. Yesterday, both accused changed their pleas to guilty after hearing Mr Lee's evidence. Ng admitted blackmail, assaulting police officers and causing criminal damage. Fung was convicted of blackmail and theft. The court heard that Ng had been involved in a scuffle with arresting officers and one was left with bruises to his chest. The following day, Ng hurt another policeman when he was taken to hospital for a check-up. He also broke a toilet door inside Tung Chung police station. Separately, Ng was fined $300 for being 15 minutes late for his court appearance yesterday. Judge Gould adjourned their sentencing to June 20.
