A JUDGE yesterday awarded costs to the defence after acquitting an executive textile buyer accused of duping his American bosses out of more than $1.2 million.
After a 33-day trial in the District Court, Andrew Ling Kar-fai, 42, was found not guilty of 10 counts of accepting advantages and 19 charges of false accounting.
Deputy Judge Jenkins refused to draw the inference that Ling had accepted cash ''kickbacks'' of $228,078 between 1987 and 1990 in return for placing orders on behalf of the US-based Wilkie Garment Co with local supplier Yau Shing Textiles Co.
As to three of the 19 false accounting charges, the court was not satisfied that the invoices in question were for accounting purposes.
For the remaining 16 charges, the court also was not satisfied that the invoices were made with a view to gain or with an intent to cause loss to others.
Ling was represented by counsel Edward Chan, QC, and Ronald Tang.
