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SCMP Reporter

A man who offered rewards to  Australian  jockey Christopher Munce for horse-racing tips was  jailed for 21 months yesterday by Deputy District Court Judge Bina Chainrai.
In sentencing, the judge said the rewards offered to Munce were  a corrupt agreement and the act by Fung Hok-cheung, 47, of offering an advantage had seriously undermined the integrity of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and  horse racing.
She added that horse racing was very much part of Hong Kong life and the Jockey Club  as a charitable organisation had contributed much to the  community.
The  Jockey Club also had to ensure horse racing was conducted in a fair and clean manner,  and that  jockeys followed the rules.
The judge said public confidence in the integrity of horse racing had to be protected and  a deterrent sentence was inevitable.
The court heard that Fung had conspired with a man named 'Ah Fei' - an undercover anti-graft officer - and offered money to Munce between June 16 and July 3 last year.
Prosecutor John Dunn told the court that Fung, who met  Ah Fei in June last year,  had told  him  he could obtain tips from Munce so the undercover officer could bankroll and place bets on the jockey's behalf.
The court was told that if the tips were successful the winnings would be paid in cash to Fung, who would pass them on to Munce.
On one occasion, Ah Fei lost HK$150,000 because the tips were unsuccessful.
And on July 1 last year, Fung told Ah Fei that Munce had tipped three horses in races the following day, and asked Ah Fei to place bets on the  mounts for Munce.
Eventually, two of the horses won and the payout amounted to  more than HK$1 million. After  subtracting Ah Fei's stake, the winnings due to Munce were HK$863,600.
On the following day, Ah Fei met Fung in a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui, where he handed Fung HK$150,000 in cash, the money being part of the dividends won.
Fung was later apprehended by officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Meanwhile,  Munce has  been returned to Sydney to serve out his remaining prison term after he was convicted of accepting bribes  last March. He was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment.



Racing tips-for-cash conspirator jailed after harming club's image