Trio jailed for newspaper fraud

Three Hong Kong Standard executives were jailed yesterday for a 'cunning and extensive' fraud to deceive advertisers by falsely inflating circulation figures.

District Court Judge Peter Line told the trio they were 'cheats' who had 'deliberately and consistently misled the public'.

General manager Henrietta So Shuk-wa, finance manager Tang Cheong-shing and ex-circulation director David Wong Wai-shing were convicted of conspiracy to defraud. So, 35, was jailed for six months while Tang, 49, and Wong, 45, were each jailed for four months.

Chairwoman of Sing Tao Sally Aw Sian, 67, was named as a co-conspirator but was not prosecuted. Judge Line said he could not be sure on the evidence put before him that Ms Aw had known of any fraud or deception.

The Government came under renewed pressure last night to explain why it had not charged Ms Aw.

Judge Line told the three: 'Even though your crimes were directed to the commercial side of the newspaper's life, they were associated with an institution that plays an important role in the public life of Hong Kong, namely the press.

'Such a fraud damages public confidence. It tarnishes that which we have a right to expect to remain bright.' He said an immediate custodial sentence was inevitable, otherwise 'it would give the lie to the adage that cheats never prosper'.