Defence says Kwong Kau helped settle debt unpaid
HK01 · 7 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
At the High Court trial over the killing of Abby Choi, witness Tam Fong-chun said a HK$5 million Macau gambling debt linked to him and guaranteed by Choi was eventually settled after his father turned to former policeman Kwong Kau for help. Tam said his father wanted to repay the debt to the right party after debt collectors harassed the family, especially because the Sun City gambling operation involved had already collapsed. Defence counsel for Kwong put to Tam that Kwong had assisted without remuneration, and Tam replied that this could be said, as Kwong wiped tears during that part of the evidence. Prosecutors later called Tam’s father, who said he paid HK$500,0000 into Kwong’s account, plus other sums described as “tea money”, and later lent Kwong HK$250,000 that was never repaid.
Key Points
- Tam Fong-chun said he borrowed HK$5 million for gambling in Macau in 2021, with Abby Choi acting as guarantor for the debt.
- He said he initially believed repayment was unnecessary after Sun City collapsed, but his father insisted debts should be cleared properly.
- Tam said his father approached Kwong Kau because Kwong was a former police officer who knew people on both lawful and unlawful sides.
- Under cross-examination, Tam said the debt was resolved for about HK$6 million, with roughly HK$1 million described as “tea money” rather than interest.
- Tam’s father later testified he first paid HK$300,000 in cash, then deposited HK$5 million into Kwong’s bank account, and later paid another HK$150,000.
Why It Matters
The evidence goes to the prosecution and defence dispute over Kwong Kau’s role in the financial dealings between the Tam family and the Kwong family before Abby Choi’s death. For Hong Kong readers following the case, the testimony also adds detail about the relationships, money flows and alleged debt-settlement arrangements now being tested before the jury.