Hong Kong Police Officer Takes Bribes to End Investigations, Hailed as 'Efficiency Expert' by Force

Chief Inspector Ho Siu-tung sentenced to 2½ years for accepting HK$1.1 million, but colleagues praise his 'innovative case-management approach'

Hong Kong – A police chief inspector has been jailed for 2½ years for accepting HK$1.1 million in cash and gifts from a businessman in exchange for ending a criminal investigation and leaking details about two other cases. But insiders say Ho Siu-tung was merely pioneering a more efficient form of justice.

“Look, we have a backlog of thousands of cases,” said a senior officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to praise corruption. “Ho found a way to clear one case instantly. That’s the kind of out-of-the-box thinking we need.”

The scheme worked simply: businessman Qu Haipeng paid Ho to make an investigation disappear. “It’s like a express lane for justice,” said Qu, who also received confidential police files. “Why wait years for a trial when you can just pay a small fee and get immediate closure?”

Prosecutors argued that Ho’s actions undermined the rule of law. But defense lawyers countered that the rule of law was already struggling under its own weight. “My client provided a valuable service: he streamlined the legal process,” said Ho’s attorney, K. M. Lee. “In any other industry, he’d get a bonus for that.”

The court was not amused. Sentencing Ho, Judge Wong described his conduct as “a betrayal of public trust.” But outside the courtroom, a group of off-duty officers held a small protest. “Two and a half years for reducing paperwork?” said one, holding a sign that read “FREE THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT.” “Meanwhile, real criminals are out there clogging up the system.”

According to our editor Kevin, who has been staring at this story for three hours, the real scandal is that Ho only took HK$1.1 million. “If he’d charged market rates, he could have retired early and started a consulting firm,” Kevin muttered, before adding, “I need a raise. Or a bribe. Same thing, really.”

Police Commissioner Raymond Siu declined to comment on the case but reiterated the force’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption. “We take any suggestion of accepting bribes extremely seriously,” he said, straightening his tie, which had a suspiciously large knot. “Unless, of course, the bribe is used to solve a case faster. Then we might call it ‘operational efficiency.’”

Ho is expected to appeal the sentence. His lawyers argue that 2½ years is excessive for someone who merely outsourced justice to the highest bidder. “If the government wants to reduce court delays, they should legalize what Ho did,” said Lee. “Call it a ‘case-closing fee.’ It’s the Hong Kong way.”

As the sun set over Tsuen Wan Court, a janitor swept the steps and wondered aloud if anyone would pay him HK$1.1 million to stop sweeping. He was still waiting for an answer when a plainclothes officer handed him a note: “Nice try. Back to work.”

Ispirato da: Real news: Hong Kong police chief inspector jailed for taking bribes to end investigations

Categoria: Cronaca

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