A KEY witness to a karaoke bar shooting in which a nightclub hostess was wounded in the shoulder was jailed for 21 months yesterday for lying to police about the identity of the gunman.
Chow Chui-ling, 23, was shot in front of her companion Ng Ming-kai by Chee Yan-fat, 33, in the Library Karaoke Club in Tsim Sha Tsui on March 2, 1992.
Chee fled to the mainland but was arrested when he re-entered Hong Kong after a contact made sure Ng would not identify him.
At an identification parade Ng, 42, failed to pick out Chee, who has since been convicted.
Prosecutor Wayne Walsh said Ng, a decorating contractor, had lied to the police to protect Chee.
Mr Walsh said Chee became angry with Ng and fired two shots, one hitting Chow. After Chee fled, Ng received a mystery call asking him to give the gunman a 'way out'.
