‘Long Hair’ Leung Kwok-hung could cite political pressure to halt misconduct case, Hong Kong court hears
Defence counsel for pro-democracy lawmaker accused of receiving HK$250,000 payment from tycoon Jimmy Lai argues case not urgent
High-profile lawmaker “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung may seek a stay of the proceedings against him over an alleged undeclared HK$250,000 payment from media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on the grounds of political pressure, a court heard yesterday.
Lawyers for the 60-year-old League of Social Democrats legislator told Eastern Court they needed time to take legal advice on the charge of misconduct in public office facing their client and suggested a possible bid to have the proceedings as a whole stayed.
Asked by acting principal magistrate Joseph To Ho-shing what the possible grounds for a stay of proceedings might be, defence solicitor Jonathan Man Ho-ching said: “An abuse of process on the grounds that the decision may have arisen from political pressure or was motivated politically.”
Man revealed the plan as he sought a two-week adjournment to study six bundles of documents he received on Thursday and to consult counsel on the handling of the case.
Leung is facing one count of misconduct in public office, which alleges that he wilfully and intentionally committed misconduct by failing to declare or disclose to the Legislative Council his acceptance of HK$250,000 from media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying through Mark Simon on May 22, 2012.
If someone wants to find fault with you there’s always something they can come up with
