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Canto-pop star Nicholas Tse Ting-fung was yesterday ordered to perform 240 hours of community service for switching drivers after a crash in his Ferrari. The policeman charged with him was jailed for six months.

The sentence was greeted with cheers of relief from dozens of fans packed into the courtroom, but legal experts questioned the disparity in the sentences.

Western Court magistrate Allan Wyeth said after considering his young age and the favourable comments in a report from Tse's probation officers, leniency could be extended in his case.

The star has spent the past fortnight in the Pik Uk Correctional Institution.

Mr Wyeth told him: 'I'm sure that the 14 days in custody has been a loud and clear wake-up call for you.'

Two weeks ago, Tse, 22, and police constable Lau Chi-wai, 28, were convicted of one joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice between March 23 and April 12.

They were found guilty of conspiring with Shing Kwok-ting, 34, a former driver for Tse's record company Emperor Entertainment Group, and the star's assistant Chow Chu-fai, to falsely claim that Shing was at the wheel of Tse's black Ferrari, which crashed in Cotton Tree Drive on March 23.

Lau was jailed for six months after Mr Wyeth said the fact he was a public servant magnified the seriousness of the offence. The policeman was released on bail of $10,000 pending an appeal.

Shing served four months in jail after pleading guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The magistrate accepted that Tse had taken a 'passive' role and that the conspiracy involved was relatively minor.  Mr Wyeth told Tse he should follow probation officers' instructions to the letter or he would be brought back to the court for re-sentencing.

'If you do not follow the instructions, there is no doubt that you will face a custodial sentence,' the magistrate said.

In his final mitigation before sentencing, Tse's barrister, Cheng Huan, SC, said the star had shown 'deep regret', according to the report from probation officers.

A report from the detention centre said Tse was 'medically unfit' to be put into the centre because of his asthma problems, the barrister said.

Mr Cheng said Tse had learned a 'bitter' lesson, adding: 'He is willing to stop driving and he allows his mother [actress Deborah Li] to keep the key [of his car].'

He also said the star had promised to 'reform' himself and 'live a law-abiding life'.

A Social Welfare Department spokeswoman, Elaine Li, said the purpose of community service was to compensate society. A convicted person's private time could be utilised in a wide range of ways, including painting, carpentry or visiting homes for the elderly. Ms Li said those ordered to carry out community service had to meet the department's social workers to discuss their interests and expertise.



Nicholas Tse escapes jail term but officer is given six months