TNAG-1996-FCO40-2843-Hong-Kong-Drug-Trafficking-(Recovery-of-Proceeds)-Ordinance--1991 — Page 79

89-11-23

09:35

919102 CONSUL G

827571 FCOHSP G

ZC2C

HPCRAN 3228 BOHPAN 7496

UNCLASSIFIED

00 DISTR

FM BANGK TO DISTR

2309152 NOV

GRS 185

UNCLASSIFIED

FM BANGKOK

TO IMMEDIATE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT

TELNO DISTRESS 407

OF 2309152 NOVEMBER 89

YOUR TELNO DISTRESS 446:

1.

LEE CHI MING

A/N WAS ARRESTED 23 MAY 1988 IN PHUKET WITH FOUR OTHER HONG KONG CITIZENS. HIS DATE OF BIRTH IS 16.10.57 AND PASSPORT NO. A601585. ALL FIVE WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME TO BE TRAVELLING FROM CHIANG MAI TO PHUKET AND CARRYING THREE SUITCASES, EACH CONTAINING 2 KILOS OF NO. 4 HEROIN.

3.

A/N WROTE TO CONSUL 15 SEPTEMBER 1988 SAYING HE WAS INNOCENT OF CHARGE BUT WAS PLEADING GUILTY BECAUSE HE COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIGHT CASE. HE WROTE AGAIN ON 20 FEBRUARY 1989 CLAIMING HE WAS NOT IN POSSESSION OF ANY DRUGS AT TIME OF ARREST AND THAT HIS FIVE CASE PARTNERS HAD EXONERATED HIM OF ANY PART IN OFFENCE. HOWEVER, HE WAS PLEADING GUILTY BECAUSE IT WOULD COST HIM TOO MUCH TO FIGHT CASE, HE STOOD VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF WINNING IT AND, BY PLEADING GUILTY, HIS SENTENCE WOULD BE REDUCED (THIS LAST POINT IS CERTAINLY TRUE).

3M WE HAVE NO OTHER DETAILS OF CASE BUT ARE MAKING

ENQUIRIES, A/N'S LAWYER IS OUT OF BANGKOK TILL 27 NOVEMBER BUT WE WILL CONTACT HIM AS SOON AS HE RETURNS.

MELHUISH

BOHPAN 7496

NNNN

827571 FCOHSP G# 919102.CONSUL G