Thomas Kwok made brother Walter a 'convenient scapegoat' to conceal bribes for Rafael Hui, court told
Walter Kwok was painted in bad light to explain away sums for Rafael Hui: prosecutor
Sun Hung Kai Properties co-chairman Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong has used his eldest brother as a "convenient scapegoat" in the trial that accuses him of bribing former government No 2 Rafael Hui Si-yan, according to prosecutors.
David Perry QC, the lead prosecutor, made the allegation yesterday after the High Court heard time and again the defence's portrayal of ousted SHKP chairman Walter Kwok Ping-sheung as paranoid after he was freed from a kidnap ordeal in 1997.
Walter Kwok's two brothers, current co-chairmen Thomas Kwok and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, are accused of bribing Hui to the tune of millions of dollars so he would be their "eyes and ears" in government.
But Thomas Kwok and Hui had both claimed the money was paid according to a consultancy pact reached in secret, lest Walter Kwok objected to it.
SHKP executive director Thomas Chan Kui-yuen, allegedly a conduit for the bribes, had also testified that Walter Kwok became very suspicious and emotional. Chan claimed ignorance of the secret pact.
Yesterday, Perry put up the "scapegoat" accusation against Thomas Kwok and Chan.