Gilbert Leung Kam-ho had money to burn - literally.
Testifying at the Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum estate case, Mr Leung said Tony Chan Chun-chuen, whom he referred to by the nickname Bucky Tooth Tony, had advised him to burn 15 HK$1,000 bills every night for a year to avoid being jailed on vote-buying charges in the 1990s.
But torching HK$5 million in a fung shui ritual seemed a bit steep to Mr Leung who said his friend agreed putting a match to HK$100 bills would do. Ian Mill QC, Mr Chan's barrister, said: 'You had half a million dollars to burn at that time, did you Mr Leung?'
'I had more than that,' the witness replied. But when Mr Leung was jailed, Mr Chan blamed the former district councillor for not following his advice, the court heard.
Mr Leung, however, denied he was furious at the apparent flip-flop. 'The rice has been fully cooked,' Mr Leung replied in Cantonese. With a bit of translation help from Mr Justice Johnson Lam Man-hon, Mr Mill figured out the witness had meant it was water under the bridge.
Mr Leung was asked why he put his faith in Mr Chan when he failed to get him bail. It was like the Chinese saying about a lady who gave birth to a drunken man, Mr Leung explained. 'I can't help with that one,' Mr Justice Lam said with a smile.
