Six months for Lee in-law

Wallis Wang

The sister-in-law of jailed pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk-yan was yesterday sentenced to six months' imprisonment for perverting the course of justice by taking away potential evidence related to a national security charge against her older sister.

Marilyn Tang Yin-lee, 63, had earlier pleaded guilty to taking away Elizabeth Tang Yin-ngor's laptop and phone from her Mei Foo Sun Chuen home on March 9 after her sister was arrested on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces.

West Kowloon magistrate Patrick Tsang Hing-tung said Tang's act did not have an impact on her sister's national security charge, as the laptop and mobile phone she took away did not contain crime-related information.

There was also no evidence she activated, disturbed or destroyed evidence, he added before sentencing her.

Upon hearing the sentence, Tang smiled and nodded at the public gallery where Elizabeth Tang was sitting. Her sister also shouted "add fuel" to her after the hearing ended.

In sentencing, Tsang said Tang lost her parents at a young age and grew up in a religious environment.

She had, he said, been a model student at school and received a master's degree before working at welfare organizations serving the public and contributing to the SAR.

Furthermore, Tang had admitted wrongdoing, showing she is remorseful.

Tsang also said she is a person of good character with no criminal record He believes the case is an isolated incident and she is unlikely to reoffend.

The court heard that Elizabeth Tang, wife of former leader of the now-disbanded Confederation of Trade Unions Lee Cheuk-yan, was arrested for colluding with foreign forces on March 9 and taken to Stanley police station.

Her lawyer then contacted Marilyn Tang, asking her to open the door to her sister's home for a police search. But officers later found she had entered the flat twice before officers arrived, staying for 69 and 41 minutes each time.

The police then arrested Tang two days later, when she admitted taking away her sister's laptop and mobile.

The laptop and iPhone were later sent for forensic examination, in which only personal information relating to Elizabeth Tang was found in the devices, and no incriminating evidence.