A martial arts coach who allegedly paid bribes to a corrupt policeman went free yesterday because the judge said he could not trust evidence given by the 'disgraced and shameless' officer. Deputy Judge Ernest Lin Kam-hung said he could not accept that the main prosecution witness, former senior inspector Lai Kin-keung, had told the court the whole truth. He said there was a 'lurking doubt' about Lai's integrity and honesty as a witness. 'This man had absolutely no sense of honour or shame . . . there were also areas in evidence where I could not tell fact from fiction,' Judge Lin said in the District Court. 'I could not help but wonder what, if anything, he was not capable of doing to further his own interests. I would not buy a second-hand car from him, however attractive the deal might seem.' Lai, who is serving four years on two charges of conspiracy to accept and offer advantages, had admitted a series of offences when cross-examined, including collecting protection money, Judge Lin said. He said Lai had 'systematically and persistently involved himself in a criminal enterprise by taking advantage of his position as a police officer'. Hung Kam-pui, 47, was acquitted on 11 charges of offering advantages and one of renting premises as a vice establishment between June 1993 and October 1994. Prosecutor Paul Dinan alleged Mr Hung offered a monthly fee to Lai, totalling $37,000, in return for warnings of impending raids on his vice villa. It was also alleged that Mr Hung gave $2,000 to the officer for demolishing the sign outside another villa.
