A solicitor, a solicitor's clerk and five others are facing charges brought by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for their alleged roles in a fraudulent scheme to swindle money with bogus standby letters of credit (L/C).

They face one joint charge of conspiracy to use a copy of a false instrument.

Defendants

The defendants include solicitor Chan Nai-keung, proprietor of Paul Chan and Co Solicitors and Chiang Pak-yeung, a law clerk at the same firm.

The other defendants are Zhong Pei-hong, proprietor of Wah Shun Investment Enterprise; Lam Chun, a merchant; Andy Chan Man-chun, a worker, and Albert Lee Tai-sang and Lui Chung-yee, both of whom are unemployed.

Hearings

No pleas have yet been heard by the Hong Kong court dealing with the matter. Chan Man-chun's case is set to come up in court again on 28 January when a plea from him is expected. He is currently on remand. The case of the other six defendants was adjourned to 18 February 2005.

Zhong was remanded in custody while the remaining defendants were granted cash bail ranging from HK$10,000 to HK$50,000. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.

Corruption complaint

The case arose out of a corruption complaint involving a solicitor, a law clerk and a criminal syndicate. They allegedly swindled money from merchants in mainland China with bogus standby L/Cs. Subsequent ICAC inquiries revealed the alleged offence.

The defendants were alleged to have conspired together to use a false document purported to be a standby L/C issued by J P Morgan Chase Bank in New York. The alleged offence took place between 14-20 January 2005.

This article represents the views of the author and not necessarily those of the ICC or any of the other partners in DC-PRO.