Ex-officials convicted in housing scam win right to appeal in Hong Kong’s top court
Top court judge says former development chief and fellow ex-official will get further hearing
The city's top court has agreed to hear an appeal by former development secretary Mak Chai-kwong and former assistant highways director Tsang King-man against their convictions for fraudulently claiming civil service housing allowances.
Court of Final Appeal judge Mr Justice Roberto Ribeiro said the pair, who were found guilty in 2013 of claiming HK$700,000 in a scam during the 1980s, might have a case for appeal.
Both had received eight-month jail sentences that were suspended for two years.
"This is an appropriate case for granting the leave to appeal on the basis it is reasonably arguable that there has been substantial and grave injustice," Ribeiro said after hearing submissions from the pair's legal team and the prosecution.
Defence barrister John Reading SC said the conclusion drawn by the trial judge, Johnny Chan Jong-herng of the District Court, was unfair to the applicants.
The appeal hearing has been fixed for one day on January 6.