Hongkong - Canto-pop idol Nicholas Tse won't be going to jail. A prosecutor had argued that the singer's sentence of 240 hours of community service was too lenient. But magistrate Allen Wyeth rejected the argument, saying that the 22-year-old had played a "passive role" in the affair and had shown remorse. "There should be fewer young people in prison," he said, adding that he did not think the community service sentence was lenient. Nicholas had been convicted of perverting the course of justice after he got his chauffeur to take the blame for a car accident in March. His community service sentence raised eyebrows in Hongknog, where many suspected that he was treated leniently because of his wealth and fame. The singer, who wore a dark blue suit and was accompanied by his parents movie star Patrick Tse Yin and veteran actress Deborah Li, smiled as he left the court but said nothing. His previously collar-length hair was uneven, still growing out from the jailhouse cut he got when he was locked up last month while awaiting sentence. His supporters were thrilled to see him stay out of jail. "I think its fair," said Ms Kitty To, 43, a security guard and a fan. She had arrived at the court about nine hours before the hearing began. "He's still young and I'm very happy for him," she said. But others were less happy. "Anyone involved in such a conspiracy should be jailed," 40-year-old pro-democracy activist Lui Yuk Lin said before the hearing, and as the courtroom was being cleared, Lui shouted in protest:"How can the judge rule this way? Where is the fairness?" The Justice Department could appeal yesterday's ruling and ask a higher court for a stiffer sentence, but prosecutor Bernard Ryan said that officials have to study the matter before making any decision. It had asked Magistrate Wyeth, who had convicted and sentence Nicholas, to review his decision and put him behind bars. Apart from not imposing any jail time on Nicholas, the magistrate also refused to raise the sentence for police officer Lau Chi Wai, who had been convicted alongside Nicholas and sentenced to six months. -AP-
Last modified : 03 October 2002 2044 hrs (SST) 1244 hrs (GMT)
Canto-pop star Nicholas Tse has been found guilty by a Hong Kong court with perverting the court of public justice.The 22-year-old singer, along with police constable Lau Chi Wai, were both charged with trying to conceal Tse's involvement in a car crash in March, by allowing someone else to take the blame.It was a trial that had all of HK talking and waiting.In the 6 months since Tse crashed his Ferrari and then conspired to cover it up, the case had grown to almost soap opera-esque proportions.Tse arrived in court for the magistrate's verdict, tanned and dressed in a sombre, dark suit.He was accompanied, as he had been throughout the trial, by his celebrity parents.The bad boy of pop is not new to controversy, but speculation had been rife all week that for all his fame, or perhaps because of it, the singer would not escape unscathed this time.And so it was. In a session that lasted three hours, the magistrate pronounced Tse guilty.In summarising the evidence given during the trial, the magistrate said it was clear that the prosecution's case was highly dependent on the testimony of Shing Kwok Ting, who was sentenced to four months in jail in April afterpleading guilty to falsely claiming he had been driving the car at the time of the crash.And that although Shing testified under immunity, the magistrate said he found his account of the events consistent and believable.Lau, who was accused along with Tse of allowing Shing to falsely stand in for the singer during the investigation into the accident, was also found guilty.Tse's lawyer appealed for leniency, citing Tse's charity work and the character witnesess who had spoken glowingly of the singer during the trial.He also suggested that since the cover up was proposed by Shing and agreed to by Lau, Tse should only get a suspended sentence, a fine or community service.Sentencing has been scheduled for Oct 16.
Copyright © 2002 MediaCorp News Pte Ltd
Last modified : 08 Nov 2002 1809 hrs
Hong Kong singer Nicholas Tse , convicted for asking another person take the rap for him in a car crash, is back in court after defence appealed against the "lenient" sentence. The Canto-pop star was convicted last month of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice after he let another man take the blame for him in a car crash earlier this year. He was sentenced to 240 hours of community service, but this sparked criticism from many quarters in Hong Kong as being too lenient. The penalty for perverting the course of public justice carries a maximum of two years imprisonment and a fine of about US$13,000. The relatively light punishment of community service meted out to the singer had led to widespread accusations of favouritism towards the rich and famous. Police constable Lau Chi Wai - who was convicted alongside Tse - was sentenced to six months' jail. In court on Friday, the prosecution lawyer asked for a review of both sentences, describing them as "manifestly inadequate and wrong in principle." He added that Tse should be made to bear more responsibility for his actions, and because of the gravity of the offence, imprisonment would be a more appropriate punishment. Defence lawyers, however, said that judicial discretion is an essential component of the rule of law, and urged the magistrate not to be pressured into revising the sentence. The magistrate is expected to announce his decision next week. Regardless of whether he upholds the original penalties, this case is unlikely to be over, as both persecution and defence can still take their appeals to a higher court.
Copyright © 2002 MediaCorp News Pte Ltd
