Lilith
01-06-2008, 07:14 PM
(gg)
(Reuters) - A Hong Kong karaoke hostess wasjailed for three years Wednesday for blackmailing asenior government official by threatening to go publicwith a steamy videotape, a spokeswoman at thejudiciary said. Hui Wing, 36, had threatened to expose herrelationship with the official, referred to as Mr. Xto protect his identity during the trial, unless hepaid her HK$590,000 ($75,000). The Hong Kong official, who is married with children,had appeared in court behind a screen as Hui spilleddetails of the liaison, including descriptions of sexin his office and how she had accompanied him onbusiness visits to neighboring Macau and Guangdong. District court judge Andrew Chan sentenced Hui tothree years' jail on each of two counts of blackmail,with the sentences to run concurrently. Chan said, however, he believed Hui and Mr. X haddeveloped a loving relationship during theirfour-month affair, even calling each other husband andwife before it soured. Hui, from the Chinese province of Hubei, met Mr. X ina Hong Kong karaoke club in late 2006. (Reporting by James Pomfret; editing by Nick Macfieand David Fogarty)
(Reuters) - A Hong Kong karaoke hostess wasjailed for three years Wednesday for blackmailing asenior government official by threatening to go publicwith a steamy videotape, a spokeswoman at thejudiciary said. Hui Wing, 36, had threatened to expose herrelationship with the official, referred to as Mr. Xto protect his identity during the trial, unless hepaid her HK$590,000 ($75,000). The Hong Kong official, who is married with children,had appeared in court behind a screen as Hui spilleddetails of the liaison, including descriptions of sexin his office and how she had accompanied him onbusiness visits to neighboring Macau and Guangdong. District court judge Andrew Chan sentenced Hui tothree years' jail on each of two counts of blackmail,with the sentences to run concurrently. Chan said, however, he believed Hui and Mr. X haddeveloped a loving relationship during theirfour-month affair, even calling each other husband andwife before it soured. Hui, from the Chinese province of Hubei, met Mr. X ina Hong Kong karaoke club in late 2006. (Reporting by James Pomfret; editing by Nick Macfieand David Fogarty)