CHINA: COURT SENTENCES NOTORIOUS CRIME BOSS CHEUNG TZE-KEUNG TO DEATH OF KIDNAPPING TWO BUSINESS TYCOONS

Record ID: 551143

  • Title: CHINA: COURT SENTENCES NOTORIOUS CRIME BOSS CHEUNG TZE-KEUNG TO DEATH OF KIDNAPPING TWO BUSINESS TYCOONS
  • Date: 12th November 1998
  • Summary: GUANGZHOU, CHINA (NOVEMBER 12, 1998) (REUTERS) GV POLICE STANDING OUTSIDE GUANGZHOU'S INTERMEDIATE PEOPLE'S COURT GV POLICE WEARING BULLET-PROOF VEST AND CARRYING RIFLE STANDING AT ENTRANCE TO COURT SV POLICE SITTING IN ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER CARRYING RIFLE GV PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE WATCHING SCENE SV POLICE MAN SITTING IN APC SV POLICE VANS PARKED ALONG STREET PAN TO POLICE VANS CARRYING CHEUNG TZE-KEUNG AND OTHER GANG MEMBERS ARRIVING/ DRIVING INTO COURT SV PEOPLE LOOKING AT COURTHOUSE MV POLICE WEARING ARMY FATIGUES AND CARRYING RIFLES ARRIVING /LINING UP AND MARCHING INTO COURT CU OF POLICE MAN STANDING IN BLOCKED OFF STREET SV CHEUNG RELATIVES AND FRIENDS COVERING THEIR FACES SV DEFENCE LAYWER LU MIN-SHENG BEING INTERVIEWED SCU LU SAYING: "WHEN HE HEARD THAT HE WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH HE APPEARED VERY CALM, HE DID NOT SHOW ANY EXPRESSION" (CANTONESE)
  • Embargoed: 27th November 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GUANGZHOU AND HONG KONG, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVA17M2YHDNW552Q5IWI2NACM3QK
  • Story Text: Amid tight security, a Chinese court on Thursday (November 12) sentenced to death Hong Kong's most notorious crime boss for kidnapping two of the territory's richest tycoons and a spate of other violent crimes.
    The Intermediate People's Court in China's southern boom town of Guangzhou convicted Cheung Tze-keung, 43, nicknamed Big Spender, and a group of his henchmen on Thursday morning (November 12).
    Police wearing bulletproof vests and carrying AK-47 rifles surrounded the court.They were backed by riot vehicles and sharpshooters on rooftops of nearby buildings.
    Four of Cheung's henchmen also received the death sentence.Two others were given death sentences with a two-year reprieve.Twenty-eight others were given sentences of up to life in jail.
    According to Cheung's laywer Lu Min-sheng, the Hong Kong gang leader was calm when the judge announced the death sentence.
    "He did not show any expression," Lu told reporters, adding that he would discuss with Cheung and his family whether to file an appeal.
    The Hong Kong crime boss was arrested this year in China's southern Guangdong province on charges of transporting and storing explosives, smuggling weapons and ammunition, murder, kidnapping and robbery.
    Hong Kong's government has come under criticism from the media and pro-democracy politicians for not fighting to have the case tried in the territory's British-style courts.Some fear it could erode the independence of the judiciary.
    According to the Basic Law - the mini constitution that came in effect after Hong Kong's handover - crimes committed in Hong Kong must be tried in Hong Kong, not the mainland.
    Hong Kong authorities have argued that since no complaint was filed by the families, local courts had no grounds to try the case.They have also noted that some of the crimes were committed in China.
    Chief of the Intemediate People's Court in Guangzhou told a press conference on Thursday that some of the crimes committed by Cheugn had taken place on the mainland and that some of the Hong Kong crimes affected the mainland.
    Cheung was acquitted in 1995 for allegedly taking part in a 167 million U.S.dollars airport robbery.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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