Confusion leads to low term

A 23-YEAR-OLD decorator who smuggled weapons into Hongkong to commit a robbery received a light sentence because of a misunderstanding by the judge.

Mr Justice Ryan jailed Kan Wing-cheung for seven years, on the basis that the maximum was 10 years.

After sentencing, the judge was told by defence counsel that the maximum had been raised to 14 years.

The judge said he had been misled by Senior Crown Counsel Mr Tong Man.

Kan pleaded guilty to possession of arms. They were found last April in the Mongkok Club, a licensed billiard association in Temple Street.

Mr Tong told the court that police found two choppers, a hand grenade, a pistol and a stun gun in lockers at the club.