Witness bully has jail term reduced

A construction worker who was asked to interfere with the star witness for the prosecution during his foreman's trial and was subsequently jailed has had his sentence reduced on appeal.

Chu Ka-shing, 41, who was given 15 months for perverting the course of justice, deserved credit for co-operating with prosecutors and the ICAC when the scam was eventually uncovered, Justice Brian Keith said.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Keith cut Chu's sentence by three months after noting his 'instrumental' role in securing the conviction of foreman Lam Hon-ngan, who had persuaded Chu to intimidate a witness during his trial. Lam was found guilty of perverting the course of justice in April this year, based on evidence provided by Chu.

Lam, who had pleaded not guilty during trial at the District Court, is serving an 18-month sentence.

Yesterday, the court heard Chu lodged the appeal because he felt a sense of grievance as Lam's sentence was calculated using a shorter starting point than his own had been.

But Kevin Zervos, for the Government, argued Chu deserved his punishment.