Hong Kong man gets 8 months’ jail for drug possession in case linked to overdose death in hotel room
- Jerry Liu, 46, appears in Eastern Court for sentencing on two drug possession charges
- Liu and US national were arrested in July 2022 in connection with death of man at hotel in Central but prosecutors withdrew manslaughter charge against pair
A Hong Kong salesman has been sentenced to eight months in jail for drug possession in a case involving the death of a man who overdosed in a Central hotel room two years ago.
Jerry Liu Wai-ip, 46, appeared in Eastern Court on Tuesday for sentencing on two drug possession charges, which he had earlier pleaded guilty to along with a US national, Michael Ikaika Tai Seichi Saromines, 40. The prosecution earlier withdrew a joint count of manslaughter against the pair.
Liu and golf coach Saromines were arrested in July 2022 in connection with Chen Te-ming’s death at Hotel Madera Hollywood on Hollywood Road in Central.
The pair were found to be in possession of two syringes containing traces of the drugs dipentylone and etizolam, as well as a crystalline solid containing methamphetamine and dipentylone.
Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei said she was convinced Liu was not an addict, with rehabilitation reports indicating his dependence on drugs at the time of the offence was due to depression triggered by the loss of loved ones.
“Reports had shown that the defendant has made significant effort to rehabilitate, and he is not drug dependent,” she said, adding that sending Liu to prison was the only option as a rehabilitation centre was not recommended.
In mitigation, the defence counsel told the court that Liu was not a chronic drug user, but he was unable to deal with the loss of his family members one after another in recent years.