Two face court over tips-for-bets scam
Two men accused of offering Australian jockey Chris Munce about HK$1.24 million in bets and monetary dividends in an alleged tips-for-bets scam will face charges in Eastern Court today.
Fung Hok-cheung, 46, unemployed, and Leung Shu-kan, 54, a merchant, are among seven people, including Munce, who were arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption in July. They were charged yesterday with one count each of conspiracy to offer advantages.
The ICAC said the charge against Fung alleged that, between June 16 and July 3, he conspired with another person to offer advantages to Munce as 'rewards for the latter's supplying horse racing tips and riding in horse races in a manner consistent with those racing tips'.
'The alleged advantages were placing bets, totalling HK$300,000, in relation to four horse races on behalf of Munce, and monetary dividends totalling HK$863,600 in relation to two of the races.'
The other charge alleges Leung conspired with Fung to offer advantages to Munce between an unspecified date in January and May 22 last year, for the same reason. The alleged advantages were said to be consistent with 'placing bets totalling HK$80,000 in two other horse races on behalf of Munce', the ICAC said.
The two men have been released on ICAC bail, pending court appearances today.
Munce, charged with one count of conspiracy to accept advantages in July, will stand trial in the District Court next month. He was released on HK$100,000 in cash bail and a HK$100,000 surety.
