Defense wants to summon former national security director in "massage parlor" case

Former national security director Frederic Choi Chin-pang, who was caught in a massage parlor raid in March, could be summoned as a defense witness in court.

Six women holding Hong Kong identity cards were arrested during the raid on suspicion of running a vice establishment in March. 

Four people were later charged with six offenses for running Viet Spa in Wan Chai, an unlicensed massage parlor and site of prostitution from October 2020 to March 2021. 

They appeared in Eastern magistrates' courts again today and pleaded not guilty. The case is adjourned to October 21 for a pre-trial review.

The defense said they plan to summon Choi as a witness in court.

Choi was caught in a raid at Viet Spa and was put on leave in March. He was later reassigned as the force’s head of training and discipline.

Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee earlier revealed that the Department of Justice has completed a review of the case and cleared Choi of any criminal charges, adding they have opened a disciplinary review and passed it to the Civil Service Bureau’s secretariat on civil service discipline for handling.

In Hong Kong, it is an offense to run an unlicensed massage establishment, with offenders facing up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000. Buying sexual services at such premises is not illegal.