The leader of a gang that kidnapped and ransomed a wealthy businessman for $5 million had his sentence reduced by three years yesterday.
Pun Luen-pan was sentenced to 21 years' jail in December 2003 for the kidnapping of businessman Lam Yick-ming in September that year. He and his three accomplices held Mr Lam for about 30 hours, at the end of which a $5 million ransom was paid.
One of Pun's accomplices, Patrick Li Kam-bun, unsuccessfully appealed against his 16-year sentence in the same action.
At the time of sentencing, trial judge Mr Justice Peter Nguyen noted the threat such crimes posed to Hong Kong's wealthy and the need for a 'condign and deterrent' penalty. 'Kidnapping is a vicious, cowardly, disgusting, horrific, callous, evil offence,' he had said. 'A clear message must be sent to people like-minded of the four [kidnappers].'
He then adopted a starting point of 21 years for Pun and 16 years for the accomplices.
Pun had appealed against both his conviction and sentence, citing unfairness in the judge's direction to the jury for the former, and the excessive nature of the latter.