A POLICEMAN convicted of fraud has been given a reduced sentenced because he will have to serve time with those he helped prosecute.
Detective Constable Liu Wing-lok, 33, was found guilty in the District Court of one count of conspiring with his former girlfriend, Wong Sau-man, to defraud a bank, and 10 counts of obtaining credit cards from the Chase Manhattan Bank with intent to defraud.
Deputy Judge Meredith said he was satisfied that Liu was the instigator of the offences and sentenced him to three years' jail.
Liu had used the credit cards to obtain cash advances and goods totalling $360,000.
His counsel, Michael Wong, submitted that being a police officer Liu stood to lose his job and pension. He had broken up with his girlfriend and had returned to his wife, who had forgiven him, the court was told.
Senior Crown Counsel Joseph Yau said during the week-long trial that on March 26 last year the bank informed the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that it had received several credit card applications that were later found to be fraudulent.
