Accused woman claims "middleman" role in ex-husband’s escape amid high-profile murder case

A woman accused of assisting the ex-husband of slain socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung to flee Hong Kong claimed she was merely a “middleman” passing on messages, prosecutors revealed during a hearing at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts Tuesday.

The accused, 29-year-old jobless Irene Pun Hau-yin, along with 41-year-old Lam Shun, is on trial for allegedly conspiring to pervert the course of public justice by aiding Choi's former husband, Alex Kwong Kong-chi, in escaping the city between February 24 and 25, 2023. 

Both defendants have previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On the second day of the trial, prosecutors presented a video recording of Pun speaking to police under caution, in which she said that a Macau resident identified only as “Ivy” informed her about helping a “rich” friend leave Hong Kong without passing through immigration.

During the proceedings, voice recordings from WeChat conversations between Ivy and Pun were played. 
Ivy suggested using a boat party in Hong Kong waters as a cover to facilitate another vessel transporting her friend to Macau, saying the urgency with the phrase, “the sooner, the better.”

Pun asserted to police that she acted solely as a “middleman,” relaying messages between Lam and Ivy, as Lam’s WeChat was not functioning, preventing Ivy from contacting him directly. 

Also, Pun said that on the same day, a group chat was established, which included herself, Ivy, Lam, and another individual.

When Pun inquired about the identity of the unidentified person in the group, Ivy labeled him “Alex.” 

However, Pun claimed she did not probe further and assumed that Alex was simply the boyfriend of an influencer.

(Jamie Liu)