The former president of the Hong Kong Judo Association, Samson Mak Yiu-cheung, was awarded $60,000 yesterday when a judge ruled he had been kicked out of the organisation unfairly.
Mr Justice Wally Yeung Chun-kuen said complaints, including allegations Mr Mak may have used association funds without authority, were unsubstantiated.
The Court of First Instance judge also said the removal of Mr Mak's membership from the association in the summer of 1994 was not binding because it was not in accordance with the organisation's constitution.
He ordered that the former president be paid a total of $10,000 for the loss of his membership and $50,000 for defamation.
The sums must be paid by 13 of the 16 defendants originally targeted in the legal action. They were all members of the association's executive committee at the time. Legal costs were awarded in favour of Mr Mak. The former president was not present in court for the judgment, delivered in written form.
Mr Mak, who heard the news on his arrival in Hong Kong last night after attending a sumo competition in Malaysia, said he was delighted. 'The money is not important. I wanted to clear my name.'
