Police officer jailed for mortgage fraud
A police officer who was earlier found guilty of mortgage fraud involving more than HK$26 million was sentenced on Friday to six and a half years in jail. Superintendent Harbour Chan was convicted in April of two counts of fraud in connection with two mortgage applications made in 2019 involving a luxury house in Tai Po and a flat in Tung Chung. Co-defender former chief inspector Wong Ho-ngai was sentenced to five years of imprisonment for one count of fraud.  In mitigation, Chan's lawyer requested the court to consider an appropriate reduction in sentence given that the defendant grew up in a less privileged family and his enthusiasm in participating in public welfare activities. Deputy District Judge Edward Wong said the sentencing starting points for the two charges were set at six and a half years and three and a half years.  Considering the defendant's good personal background and special social contributions, a discretionary reduction in sentence was granted, resulting in a sentence of six and a half years.