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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1994
EXHIBITS FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS PROPERLY HANDLED
* *
FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS
SELINA
CHOW
AND A ASPREY, IN
WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}:
QUESTION: WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF THE FOLLOWING :
(A)
THE NUMBER OF CASES IN WHICH EXHIBITS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS BEING CLAIMED BY IMPERSONATION IN THE PAST THREE YEARS; AND THE BREAKDOWN OF THE NATURE OF SUCH CASES; AND
REPLY:
(B)
WHAT MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT PREVENT EXHIBITS FROM BEING CLAIMED BY SUCH MEANS?
ΤΟ
MR PRESIDENT,
(A)
(B)
THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE SUCH CASE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. THIS OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 1993 WHEN 191 GRAMS OF HEROIN WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE PROPERTY OFFICE OF THE SHEUNG SHUI POLICE STATION BY A POLICE CONSTABLE WHO CLAIMED FALSELY THAT HE WAS THE ARRESTING OFFICER IN THE CASE. THE DRUGS WERE EXHIBITS IN A CASE OF "TRAFFICKING IN DANGEROUS DRUGS", AND THE TRIAL WHICH
IN THEY WERE TO BE AN EXHIBIT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ABORTED. AN OFFICER HAS SINCE BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH THEFT AND CONSPIRACY TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE.
THERE ARE STRINGENT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACES WHERE EXHIBITS, IN PARTICULAR VALUABLE PROPERTY AND DANGEROUS DRUGS, ARE HANDLED AND STORED. THE EXHIBITS ARE LOCKED UP SECURELY, AND ENTRY TO THE PLACES OF STORAGE IS RESTRICTED. POLICE OFFICERS HANDLING THE EXHIBITS ARE REQUIRED TO OBSERVE STRICT PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND USE OF THESE EXHIBITS. ONLY THE OFFICER WHO SEIZED THE PROPERTY OR THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF A CASE IS ALLOWED TO WITHDRAW THE EXHIBITS FROM THE PROPERTY STORE. THERE ARE REGULAR INSPECTIONS CARRIED OUT BY SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT PROCEDURES ARE BEING ADHERED TO AND PROPER RECORDS MAINTAINED. THESE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN EXAMINED BY THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION DEPARTMENT OF THE ICAC AND HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE ADEQUATE. THE FORCE ALSO PROVIDES TRAINING ΤΟ OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT EXHIBITS ARE PROPERLY HANDLED. OFFICERS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE PROCEDURES MAY BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
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