Lawmakers have raised new queries over the accuracy of police laser guns after the Department of Justice reduced a speeding charge for a driver even before the officer in that case gave evidence in court.
Audrey Eu Yuet-mee of the Civic Party questioned yesterday why lighting designer Tino Kwan Wing-kuen, who was allegedly clocked doing 96km/h in a 50km/h zone, was given a reduced charge after tycoon Peter Lam Kin-ngok - also represented by Mr Kwan's senior counsel - received similar treatment.
'Two officers at two different times were involved. Why should the result of one case impact upon the other?' Ms Eu asked. 'Is it really the officers' evidence that is in question or the laser gun itself?'
Secretary for Justice Wong Yan-lung said earlier that Mr Lam's speeding charge was only reduced from 114km/h to 79km/h - a speed that would not cost him his licence, because of incorrect evidence given by the officer who caught Mr Lam, stressing it had nothing to do with the gun's accuracy.
In a meeting of the Legislative Council's transport panel, Ms Eu challenged the statement, saying the constable who clocked Mr Kwan had not even testified before the charge was reduced. Deputy director of public prosecutions John Reading said Mr Wong had known about Mr Kwan's case when he spoke.
'The two cases were heard back to back,' he said. 'The fact that our expert witness collaborated with the officer upon preparing his report that would be used in the two cases contaminated the evidence of both.'
