Eleven licensed hawkers who took it in turns to surrender themselves to arresting officers were yesterday acquitted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Judge Fergal Sweeney told the District Court he found nothing sinister in the group taking advantage of the 'natural laziness' of the former Urban Services Department controllers. The court heard the officers would regularly arrest four of the 11 for causing an obstruction in Yan Oi Court, Kwun Tong. Typically, those working at the courtyard's entrance would be arrested and have their goods confiscated. As a result, the hawkers agreed in May 1997 to take it in turns to work the entrance and surrender themselves when the officers arrived, the court heard. Eventually, those 'scheduled' to surrender brought fewer goods to minimise their losses if and when they were seized. But Judge Sweeney said the hawkers may have just exploited the 'natural laziness' of the officers, who arrested the easiest targets. 'I found nothing unusual or sinister in this,' he said. The judge said there was no evidence officers were bribed or scapegoats arranged. Tai Siu-chuen, 62, Chan Soong-nam, 61, Chan Wai-chun, 67, Chan Yuet-so, 68, Ho Ping-yau, 57, Li Ping, 66, Siu Ng, 69, Wan Ying-sung, 66, Yau Man, 58, Yung Kwok-ming, 62, and Chu Yin-ming, 43, denied the charge. The offences allegedly took place between May 1997 and March 1999.
