Ex-Hong Kong minister Patrick Ho to fight bribery case in US by ‘educating jury’ about China’s Belt and Road Initiative, defence says
New court document filed in New York moves to summon Harvard professor, saying China expert’s testimony will show defendant’s work for Shanghai-based oil conglomerate was meant to further global trade plan
Former Hong Kong minister Patrick Ho Chi-ping will fight his bribery case in the United States by trying to “educate the jury” in court about China’s “Belt and Road Initiative”.
In a 35-page document filed at the New York Southern District Court on Friday local time, Ho’s legal team defended its move to summon Harvard University professor William Kirby, saying the China expert’s testimony would show Ho’s work for Shanghai-based oil conglomerate CEFC China Energy was “in furtherance of the Chinese state’s agenda”.
“The jury cannot understand this case without understanding OBOR [One Belt, One Road],” the defence said, using the original name of China’s global trade initiative.
The defence argued the “quasi-official” nature of Ho’s work for the oil group could paint a different picture of the alleged US$2.9 million bribe to Chad and Uganda officials. Instead, the amounts offered were “intended to facilitate charitable donations rather than bribes”.
The defence said Ho “was motivated by a desire to promote general, long-term goodwill for the Chinese state and Chinese companies, including CEFC [China] Energy, rather than to secure specific and immediate contracts or business advantages”.
If the defence’s application is granted, Kirby is expected to testify on the history and geopolitical connotations of China’s ambitious trade plan and the “close relationship between CEFC and the Chinese state” based on open information. Ho, whose legal expenses are being paid by CEFC, has not objected to Kirby’s testimony.
