Yuen Long “套丁” case: Defense seeks permanent termination of hearing A group of five former Yuen Long residents is on trial at the Tuen Mun District Court for alleged fraud against the Lands Department. The defendants, who are accused of colluding with Yuen Long village head Cheng Zhen‑ming and others to obtain building permits for the “Xiao Men” project in Yuen Long Shih Huang, are facing charges that could carry a total fine of HK$1 billion. The defendants – 42‑year‑old construction worker Chen Yong‑jian, 56‑year‑old quality‑control officer Yang Qi‑guang, 42‑year‑old electrician Luo Tian‑long, 58‑year‑old taxi driver Huang Guan‑sheng and 62‑year‑old taxi driver Chen Zhi‑ming – are alleged to have conspired between 1991 and 2017 to misrepresent themselves as the sole legal owners of the land in question. According to the prosecution, the group used false statements to persuade the Lands Department to issue building permits for the subdivision. The defense has applied for a permanent termination of the hearing, arguing that the government had previously promised not to criminalise “套丁” (subdivision) schemes. The lawyers cite two official letters issued by former Housing and Planning Department head Sun Ming‑yang and former Development Bureau head Carrie Lam, as well as minutes from meetings between the village committee and government officials between 2006 and 2008. They contend that the letters, which were copied to the Security Bureau and the Chief Executive’s office, indicate an expectation that law‑enforcement agencies would cooperate and that the government had committed to not prosecute such schemes. In a statement, lead counsel Wang Yong‑wen said the village committee was a statutory body and that the government’s assurances were effectively directed at every village resident, not just the defendants. “It was not a joke,” Wang said. “The letters were sent to the Security Bureau and the Chief Executive’s office, showing that the enforcement agencies were expected to cooperate.” He added that even if the defendants were to receive a fair trial, the use of legal procedures in this case could undermine public confidence in the rule of law, and therefore the hearing should be terminated. Judge Qian You‑fang postponed the case to the following day and allowed the defendants to remain on bail. He stated that the court could not yet assess the letters and statements from officials and therefore could not determine whether the defendants should be charged. The case is registered as TMCC144/2025 (Consolidated). The court reporter for the hearing was Lei Jing‑yi.
Article source: Sing Tao Electronic Daily | Image credit: Sing Tao Electronic Daily