HONG KONG: An unemployed handicapped man who authored several threatening letters to the judge presiding at the Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum probate trial; one of the parties to the case, fung shui practitioner Tony Chan Chun-chuen and others, last year has been jailed for two and a half year.

Expressing his disgust for Tony Chan with accusations and menacing language, Hung Wai-yip, 48, sent more than 10 threatening letters to Justice Johnson Lam Man-hon, Tony Chan, his wife and son, Wang's brother Kung Yan-sum and other parties involved in the probate trial during proceedings last July and August.

In his letter to judge Johnson Lam, Hung signed off in the name of Tony Chan writing: "If you rule against me, then you and your family members should be worried about your safety." Lam said that upon receiving the two-page letter in Chinese on August 11, 2009, he was worried for his safety and for that of his family, and he reported the matter to police.

In letters Hung sent to Tony Chan, Chan's wife Tam Miu-ching and Chan's son Wealthee Chan, Hung expressed his hatred for what he termed Chan's greediness.

In all three letters, Hung posed as "Ah Ching". For the added convenience of investigations, he also included his mobile number in the letter. He defiantly challenged Tony Chan and his family to call him directly so he could scold them directly.

Hung also sent two letters to Tony Chan's current and former properties. In one of the letters, he wrote that Chan might not live until the end of the year and his security guards might not be able to save him. In the other letter which was styled as a pamphlet, Hung cut a picture of Chan from a newspaper and stuck it in the middle with words "Funeral of Chan's family".

Hung pleaded guilty in a court on December 29, 2009 in the District Court to three counts of sending prohibited articles by post, two of attempting to pervert the course of justice, one of performing acts intended to do so, and eight of criminal intimidation.

The judge said Hung had no real motive apart from wanting to disparage people. He said everybody enjoys freedom of speech but that right should not be abused by "bad mouthing" people with provocative statements.

He said Hung had been foolish and immature in that he even included his mobile phone number in the letters.

Hung formerly was a delivery and warehouse worker who lived alone in Sham Shui Po. He was born with short arms and uneven legs. Hung's barrister pleaded for mitigation and urged the judge to consider Hung's eccentric personality and his poor childhood caused by his innate deficiency. He said Hung regretted his actions and had stated the letters were intended as a joke.

(HK Edition 01/14/2010 page1)