Rejection of claims mainland police illegally seized evidence comes under further fire

Lawyers yesterday attacked the police for rejecting claims that mainland security officers illegally seized evidence from the Hong Kong home of two corruption case suspects.

On Wednesday, the Security Bureau said a police inquiry had found no evidence for claims that mainland police illegally seized evidence from the North Point home of Su Zhi-yi, 67, and his wife, Kam Shuk-yee, 57. The pair were convicted in a mainland court last year of embezzlement.

The bureau said the inquiry had concluded three Zhaoqing public security bureau officers, named by the couple's daughter Su Suet, had visited Hong Kong in a private capacity and had not exercised jurisdiction or worked on the couple's case.

It said no further action would be taken because there was insufficient evidence to show there had been breaches of law. Mainland courts have also rejected the claims.

The Legislative Council's security panel is to convene a special meeting on January 16 to examine the police finding. Member James To Kun-sun said he found the investigation results unacceptable.

Su and Kam were arrested in Guangdong in 1995. Su was sentenced to a life term and his wife received 15 years. They were convicted of embezzling $4 million from an alleged state-owned company, Paraway Industries, in Hong Kong. One of their lawyers, Chen Xiaofeng, said the SAR police findings were an 'illogical lie' which did not explain some crucial doubts over the case.