A CONMAN who talked a masseuse out of her money and into his bed had his sentence reduced for leading police to a bank robber, a fraudster, a pair of illegal immigrants and a rapist. Defence lawyer Andrew Macrae told the Appeal Court that Leung Chiu-tin deserved a cut in his 31/2-year sentence in the light of the crimes averted and criminals caught due to his information. Leung helped police jail a bank robber for 11 years, capture a pair of mainlanders armed with explosives and catch a fraudster who had absconded. He also led them to a robber wanted on the mainland for false imprisonment and gang rape. Mr Justice Power, Mr Justice Bokhary and Mr Justice Mortimer allowed the appeal and reduced his sentence from 31/2 to 21/2 years. Last August Leung, 31, pleaded guilty to blackmail, obtaining property by deception and theft. On May 6, 1993, he entered the Diamond Palace Sauna in Wan Chai and asked for a massage. After masseuse Cheung Yim-ching had finished, Leung told her he wanted to 'take care' of her. He offered to pay her $60,000 a month, and promised her a year's salary up front if she would serve him exclusively. At first, she refused. But the thought of the extra money changed her mind. That night, she slept with him. The next morning, Leung told Ms Cheung that he planned to deposit $650,000 into her bank account. When he asked for her particulars, she handed over her pass book. Leung then told her that her balance was too small - the sudden appearance of such a hefty sum would arouse suspicion. He suggested that she deposit some money into the account first. The masseuse went to her father and sister and told them that she desperately needed money. Worried, they deposited $330,000 into her account. Then Leung made a phone call and told someone to deposit $650,000 into her account. Later that morning, the couple went to the bank to check Ms Leung's balance. An entry for $650,000 had appeared. Ms Cheung had no idea that the sum had been deposited by cheque. He then told her he would deposit C$520,000 (HK$2.93 million) currency into her account if she first withdrew $320,000 so he could buy a cashier's order. When she did so, he pocketed the money and vanished. The next day, Ms Cheung was informed that the $650,000 cheque had bounced.
