Former driver ‘blackmailed glove-making firm’s director’
Man accused of threatening the safety of Edward Cheng’s long-time workers
A former driver for the co-founder of a local glove-making firm allegedly blackmailed another co-founder by threatening the safety of his long-time workers and demanding HK$1.6 million last year, eventually pocketing HK$850,000.
The story emerged at the District Court on Thursday after Mok Chung-lam, 37, denied two charges of blackmailing AML Group Holdings’ director Edward Cheng, 74.
Mok was once a family driver hired by Juliana Lam, the daughter of the company’s other founder and director Frank Lam, between September 2014 and last summer.
It was alleged that Mok first approached Cheng at Nanyang Plaza in Kwun Tong on March 9 last year, saying: “I am the Lam family driver. I’m very familiar with your two families. I’ve followed you for some time.”
Prosecutor Sher Hon-piu said Mok then produced his mobile phone showing two or three pictures of Cheng’s staff, who served him for more than ten years, and read out their names and addresses before asking Cheng for HK$1 million to ensure their safety.