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SCMP Reporter

I was denied medical help, I was left paralysed, says defendant in fraud case

A Hong Kong man accused of cheating a vice-mayor of Shaoguan out of more than 1.5 million yuan in a card game has been released on bail in Shenzhen.

Ng Kwong-ming,  42, now hopes the mainland authorities  let him return  to Hong Kong to receive medical treatment.

Ng was paralysed from the waist down after suffering serious injuries in a detention centre in Shaoguan, Guangdong, where he claimed he was beaten by police and forced into  heavy labour.

Ng has appealed to the Hong Kong Immigration Department to help him return home. A spokeswoman for the department yesterday confirmed it had received his request and was working to help him.

Ng, fellow Hong Kong resident Wang Yuen-chuen,  52, and mainlander Luo Qi ,  42, went on trial in Shaoguan in March accused of  cheating Shaoguan vice-mayor Peng Yun in Macau last April.

The three, who all pleaded not guilty to fraud charges, were arrested in May and June last year.

Their lawyers have argued that it was inappropriate for the Shaoguan court to handle the case, as the incident took place in Macau. They also accused the Shaoguan police of collaborating with the vice-mayor to take personal revenge.

Guangdong authorities have decided to transfer the case to Shenzhen following media reports.

It also suspended Peng from duty and detained him for investigation.

The Shaoguan government has refused to comment on the matter, although Peng's name has been removed from the local government's website.

Ng and Wang were transferred to Shenzhen last Tuesday. The Shenzhen government  let Ng out on bail on humanitarian considerations.

The Shenzhen procuratorate is now studying the case. Prosecutors  have yet to decide whether to press charges against the three. Wang is  still in detention.

A mainland legal expert said Ng and Wang now have a much greater chance of winning the case or getting a lenient sentence.

Speaking at his home in Shenzhen, Ng yesterday thanked Hong Kong media for exposing the case. He also praised Shenzhen authorities for treating him 'humanely'.

'I'm grateful they allowed me to take medical treatment at home and let me go to a public hospital. In Shaoguan, I was denied medical help for a long time. I was paralysed as  a result,' he said.

Ng admitted he had gambled with the vice-mayor but denied he had conned Peng into playing the card game.

Earlier, Peng told the Shaoguan court in a statement that he gambled with the men because he was drugged.



HK gambler bailed in Shenzhen