Socialite Mo Yuk-ping, on trial for allegedly manipulating shares in her jailed husband's listed company, suffered a fresh setback yesterday when the Court of Appeal rejected her latest bid to challenge the trial judge's decision not to halt the prosecution.
Last month District Court Judge Alan Wright dismissed an application by Mo and her secretary and co-accused Chung Sau-ling for a permanent stay of proceedings.
This prompted Mo's lawyers to ask Mr Justice Michael Hartmann of the Court of First Instance to quash the trial judge's decision. But Mr Justice Hartmann refused to grant Mo permission to launch a judicial review of the lower court's decision.
Mo's lawyers yesterday renewed her bid at the Court of Appeal, seeking permission for a second time to launch a judicial review of the trial judge's decision.
But the Court of Appeal yesterday unanimously refused to grant Mo leave to challenge the trial judge's decision. The judges indicated they would give their reasons shortly. Nevertheless, by law Mo could still go to the Court of Final Appeal to seek permission for launching a judicial review. Government counsel Alex Lee opposed the application by Mo. He contended in yesterday's hearing that Mo's trial, now under way in the District Court, should not be interrupted.
Mr Lee also argued that there was an 'alternative remedy' for Mo other than judicial review. He said Mo could lodge a criminal appeal after the trial.
