Judge defers bail decision in smuggling case

A DECISION on an application by three men to have their bail restored will be made on Wednesday after arguments are considered in relation to an alleged $8.5 billion cigarette smuggling case.

Magistrate Jonathan Acton-Bond yesterday told Eastern Court he would present his verdict at 9.30 am.

He said if his deliberations relating to the application of the three defendants - Henfrey Tin Sau-kwong, 45, Chong Tsoi-jun, 49 and Yeung Kam-fai, 43 - led him to a conclusion before Wednesday that bail should be restored, he would alert all parties immediately.

Legal arguments finished late yesterday with a short reply by Crown prosecutor Kevin Zervos to submissions made by barrister Kevin Egan, for Tin and Chong, and Alexander King, for Yeung.

The defendants will spend the weekend in Lai Chi Kok reception centre where they have been held since before Easter.

Last week, Mr Zervos successfully argued before magistrate Yung Yiu-wing, that their bail should be revoked.

Tin, a former Customs officer and friend of sacked Independent Commission Against Corruption deputy director of operations Alex Tsui Ka-kit, is charged with accepting a bribe and conspiring to offer advantages to Customs officers.

Chong, a merchant, faces two charges of plotting to offer advantages.

Both men are charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

All three face charges of conspiring to export unmanifested cargo and conspiracy to defraud.

At the end of the hearing, Mr Egan told the court Chong was suffering from hypertension.

Mr Acton-Bond agreed to write a letter to the authorities at the reception centre asking them to give Chong appropriate medical attention.

The committal hearing on the charges is due to start on Wednesday, the day put down for the bail decision.