A Hong Kong airport ground crewman has been handed an 80-hour community service order for taking a picture of ex-chief executive Leung Chun-ying’s passport.
Andrew Chung appeared at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday. He earlier pleaded guilty to obtaining access to a computer with a view to dishonest gain, The Witness reported.
According to the case details, Leung’s son bought HK Express flight tickets to Japan for the family on December 1, 2019. When HK Express staff checked the son’s details in an online system, they found abnormal purchases including 24 in-flight meals and five check-in luggage quotas.
It was also found that the son’s name had been changed to “Leung Shit.”
Police arrested Chung and two other people with whom he was in a WhatsApp group. Chung had sent a photo of the ex-leader’s passport to the group, the court heard.
Under police caution, Chung said he had logged into the HK Express system and searched for the booking by the leader’s son. He also admitted taking a photo of Leung Chun-ying’s passport and sending it to the WhatsApp group.
Chung, however, denied changing the son’s name to “Leung Shit.”
Magistrate Philip Chan said this was a serious case and the defendant should be punished by more than a fine or a suspended sentence. The airport worker was sentenced to 80 hours of community service.
The two others who were arrested alongside Chung earlier pleaded guilty to offences including criminal damage and obtaining access to a computer with a view to dishonest gain. They were sentenced to 80 hours of community service in August 2022.
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