THREE police officers, alleged to have beaten a decorator, will not face prosecution, despite payment of $100,000 damages in an out-of-court settlement to the man. There was insufficient evidence to launch criminal proceedings against the three, the Secretary for Security, Alistair Asprey, told the Legislative Council yesterday. Disciplinary action had been taken as a result of which one had received a severe reprimand, and the others were cautioned. However, legislators said paying the damages proved the officers had done something wrong. They asked why no criminal proceedings were being brought over the case in which Tse Chow-loi sued the officers and the Attorney-General. Mr Tse said that in December 1990 he had been beaten outside the Sai Kung Government Offices building and had been unlawfully imprisoned. Mr Asprey said there were different demands for evidence for civil and criminal proceedings. The officers were disciplined on the grounds that they had failed to adhere to formal police procedures, he said. The three officers had had to pay a share of $10,000 each for the damages and the Government was paying $70,000, Mr Asprey said. He could not explain how the ratio was worked out, nor could he recollect any similar cases.
