A voting member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club entered no plea yesterday to a fraud conspiracy charge over an application for racing membership of the club. The charge arose from a sweeping Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation that started last year.
David Ho Wai-tak, a 69-year-old doctor, is the second of the club's 200 voting members to be charged. He is alleged to have conspired to defraud the club together with Stanley Lawrence Freedman, an honorary voting member, and To Wing - whose name was officially disclosed for the first time yesterday.
The name of the person seeking membership was also disclosed - Chan Chi-chung.
The charge alleges that between January and March 2009 Ho, Freedman and To falsely stated in the application form that each personally knew the applicant Chan, according to the charge issued by the ICAC.
It said their claims as to the length of their acquaintanceship with Chan and the nature of the relationship with him were also false. The qualities Chan was said to possess that made him suitable for racing membership were also dishonestly stated, the ICAC said.
Ho was granted bail, on conditions including that he does not leave Hong Kong, until the District Court hears the case on August 16.