UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2961
OF 280144Z DECEMBER 92
INFO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR
CAMENDED DISTRIBUTION 29/12)
HKD 384/1
143
015207
MDLIAN 4323
ра
بیل
LORRAIN OSMAN
139)
YOUR TELNO 398
1. OSMAN ARRIVED IN HONG KONG IN THE EARLY EVENING OF 16 DECEMBER. HE WAS ARRESTED PURSUANT TO WARRANT AND TAKEN TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC) WHERE HE WAS PROCESSED AND CHARGED WITH THE THIRTY NINE OFFENCES FOR WHICH HE WAS SURRENDERED. HE WAS THEN DETAINED OVERNIGHT IN ICAC CUSTODY.
2.
OSMAN APPEARED BEFORE A MAGISTRATE ON 17 DECEMBER WHEN THE MATTER WAS REMANDED TO 21 DECEMBER TO PERMIT HIS LEGAL TEAM (INCLUDING LEADING COUNSEL FROM LONDON) TO TRAVEL TO HONG KONG AND PREPARE SUBMISSIONS FOR BAIL. OSMAN WAS REMANDED IN GAOL CUSTODY.
3*
ON 21 AND 22 DECEMBER POWERFUL SUBMISSIONS WERE MADE ON OSMAN'S BEHALF THAT HE BE GRANTED BAIL. THIS APPLICATION WAS STRENUOUSLY RESISTED. OSMAN PERSISTED IN HIS COMPLAINTS THAT HE WOULD NOT RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL IN HONG KONG AND AGAIN SOUGHT TO RELY UPON THE TERMS OF THE CHOOI MINUTES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THERE WAS SOME QUOTE COVER UP UNQUOTE INVOLVING THE GOVERNMENTS OF HONG KONG AND MALAYSIA.
IN THE EVENT OSMAN'S APPLICATION WAS REFUSED. THE MAGISTRATE FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE RISK THAT IF ADMITTED TO BAIL OSMAN WOULD ABSCOND. ACCORDINGLY, OSMAN WAS AGAIN REMANDED
IN GAOL CUSTODY.
5. THE CASE IS NOW ADJOURNED TO 14 JANUARY 1993 AT WHICH TIME THE MATTER WILL BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE CASE AGAINST GEORGE TAN. AT THIS HEARING THE COURT WILL BE EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM THE CROWN ITS PROPOSALS WITH REGARD TO THE LIKELY TIMING OF A TRIAL.
6
THE PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN VERY WIDELY REPORTED IN THE
1
PAGE UNCLASSIFIED