A ROYAL Navy patrolman found a man in the boot of a Mercedes-Benz on board a smuggling boat, the District Court heard yesterday.
Farm worker Wong Koon-kwan, 18, was jailed for 31/2 years for handling stolen goods. He had denied the charge.
He was also convicted of assisting with the carrying of unmanifested cargo to which he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to one year for this offence to run concurrently.
Judge Kilgour heard that on October 23 last year a motor vessel off Green Island was boarded by Frazer Manson, a member of a Royal Navy patrol.
He found a Mercedes-Benz on board and a fierce struggle broke out with the crew. He was knocked into the engine compartment where he managed to cut the boat's fuel lines bringing it to a halt.
In the fight, one man fell into the sea and disappeared. Another two men were found on the boat, including Wong, who was in the car boot, and Lee Kuk-tai, 26, who had absconded.