Taxi driver jailed after overcharging officer and fleeing
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 64-year-old taxi driver, Chan Wai-kee, was sentenced to eight weeks in prison at Eastern Magistrates' Courts after admitting careless driving and two overcharging-related offences arising from an undercover police operation in Happy Valley. The court heard he quoted a flat fare, failed to use the taximeter, overcharged the passenger, and then sped away when a plainclothes officer identified himself as police.
Key Points
- The original dangerous driving charge was amended to careless driving, and Chan pleaded guilty to that offence and two charges linked to overcharging.
- The offences took place on April 29, 2026, when an undercover officer on Wong Nai Chung Road asked in Mandarin for a ride to the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong.
- Chan agreed to a flat HK$280 fare including tunnel tolls, drove off without activating the meter, and overcharged the passenger by about HK$150.
- At the hotel drop-off area, the officer paid with three HK$100 notes and received HK$20 change before another plainclothes officer approached and identified himself.
- Chan accelerated away immediately, forcing nearby pedestrians to step back, and later surrendered the next day; the court also heard he had 32 previous convictions.
Why It Matters
The sentence underlines the legal risks for taxi drivers who overcharge passengers and try to evade police during enforcement operations. It also shows that courts may treat attempts to flee seriously even when no one is physically injured.