Ex-district rep rapped for 'loans to over 100'

Former district councillor and student leader Tommy Cheung Sau-yin is in debt to more than 100 people, a former Liberal Party member said, as the Small Claims Tribunal yesterday ordered Cheung to repay HK$35,000 to a claimant.

Cheung, 29, former president of the Chinese University's student union, was absent from the hearing yesterday. The claim by Yeung Ho-chuen was for HK$35,000, loaned through the Faster Payment System on December 31 and January 1.

Cheung had promised to repay the money before January 6.

Deputy adjudicator Doris Li Ying-yue ruled that Cheung has to pay Yeung HK$35,000 and an HK$80 court cost.

Speaking outside court, Yeung said he had prepared all evidence, including phone call records.

He said he knew Cheung about seven years ago. Cheung told him on December 31 that he was involved in a car accident and that someone was claiming HK$25,000 from him. A day later, he asked for HK$10,000 more.

"I realized that I was being cheated when [financial columnist] Muddy Water broke the news on social media," Yeung said.

The 32-year-old columnist, Wong Siu-ki, wrote on social media in January that Cheung owed him over HK$200,000, and later said Cheung agreed to repay about HK$6,000 every month.

Despite Yeung winning the lawsuit, he did not hold out much hope of getting his money back, saying Cheung had owed money to people since 2014.

He said Cheung had "a reputation for not repaying his debts" and decided to file the claim as he wanted it on official record and to "get justice."

When asked whether he would file a bankruptcy petition against Cheung if he was not repaid, Yeung said he would first launch a crowdfunding push, as such a filing can be costly.

"I think there should be someone who wants him to go bankrupt," he said.