Former Hong Kong law professor, activist Benny Tai hit with charges over 2016 Legislative Council race expenses
- City’s anti-graft watchdog said it was acting on complaints in bringing charges against Tai, psychologist Ip Kim-ching and Sek Sau-ching
- The trio allegedly placed six adverts in local newspapers encouraging voters to participate in strategic voting, a plan Tai dubbed Thundergo
The investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) arose from complaints alleging breaches of the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.
After seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice, charges were laid against 57-year-old Tai, psychologist Ip Kim-ching, 55, and Sek Sau-ching, 50.
The trio will jointly face four counts of engaging in illegal conduct during a poll by incurring election expenses, and are due at Eastern Court on Friday for the case be transferred to the District Court for a plea hearing.
The charges allege the trio, despite not being candidates or election expense agents of others running for office, incurred such expenses totalling over HK$253,000 (US$32,500) by placing six advertisements in the Ming Pao Daily News and Apple Daily newspapers through a company called Eggs Alliance.
The firm paid HK$133,540 for three Ming Pao Daily News adverts and HK$120,000 for the same number in the now-defunct Apple Daily, according to the allegations.
Ip and Sek were both directors of Eggs Alliance and authorised signatories of its bank account.
