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SCMP Reporter

A KIDNAPPER who gave damning evidence which led to his two friends being convicted of murdering a nine-year-old boy was yesterday jailed for eight years.

   Fong Ka-yan, 20, was given a 12-year reduction in the sentence that would have been imposed had he not helped put the killers behind bars for life.

  Mr Justice Stuart-Moore told him: 'You agreed to give evidence against both of those killers. They are dangerous young men and it was greatly in the public interest that the full story of their atrocious crimes should be told.

 'When an accomplice gives full and true evidence for the prosecution, as I am satisfied you did, he should know the courts will attach great weight to that when it comes to the sentence,' the judge said.

  Fong pleaded guilty to kidnapping Eddie Wong Wan-hin, who was lured away from his school, driven to Tai Mo Shan, smothered, and dumped in a plastic rubbish bag on September 26 last year.

  Wong Wing-yuet, 20, the boy's 'uncle', and Yip Sun-on, 21, were jailed for life on August 23 for murdering the child. They were also given 18 years for kidnapping.

  Fong was the driver who took Wong, Yip and the boy to Tai Mo Shan, drove away, and then returned to pick up the killers 15 minutes later.

  The court heard Fong was not present when Eddie was suffocated. He was led to believe the boy was being looked after by other gang members.

  Telephone calls demanding a ransom of $3 million were later made to the boy's distraught parents.

  Mr Justice Stuart-Moore told Fong: 'You were a full and willing participant, hoping for a large share of the money.'   But Fong would not have taken part if he knew the child was going to be killed.

  He confessed soon after his arrest and agreed to give evidence for the Crown in return for immunity from prosecution on the murder charge.

  The judge said Fong's account of the way in which the kidnap was planned and carried out enabled the jury to get inside the minds of Wong and Yip.

  'I have little doubt your evidence played an important part in the conviction of both young men on the charge of murder,' he said.

  Two others involved in making ransom demands were also jailed by the judge.

  Restaurant worker Wong Fuk-tak, 20, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to blackmail. He made two telephone calls to Eddie's father demanding the ransom be paid.

  Mr Justice Stuart-Moore said Wong Fuk-tak had also given evidence for the prosecution and, as a result, received less than half the sentence which would otherwise be imposed.

  Lui Chun-ngai, 22, also pleaded guilty to blackmail and was jailed for five years.

  Prosecutor Michael Arthur said Lui made one telephone call demanding a $2 million ransom from Eddie's parents.

  Malcolm Nunns, defending Lui, said he had acted merely as 'a robot', passing on a message which had been given to him by Wong Wing-yuet.

  He felt under moral pressure to make the call as a favour for his friend after hearing Wong Wing-yuet would 'not be alive tomorrow' if he refused.

  The judge told Lui he had to get this 'messenger' idea out of his head. 'This was a plain case of blackmail,' he said.

  Mr Justice Stuart-Moore said he felt sorry for Lui's distraught mother and wheelchair-bound grandmother, who were both in court.

  Lui's mother wept as he walked to the cells, calling out: 'There is no reason why he should get five years for just one telephone call.'   She staged a sit-down protest outside the court, sobbing and banging the floor with her fists.



Eddie Wong kidnap driver gets 8 years