Senior Police Officer Caught in Scandal is Reassigned

Choi will start overseeing human resources and discipline

 

Remember the Hong Kong police's national security director who was caught in an unlicensed massage parlour during a sting operation?

While Frederic Choi Chin-pang was cleared of any illegal misconduct, he has been removed from his post and assigned another one -- director of personnel and training in charge of the force's human resources, discipline and training.

Many officers were outraged when they heard the announcement today, saying Choi, 50, hadn't been punished at all, basically retaining the same rank, and that the transfer was "a fatal blow to the force's integrity".

Choi was No. 2 in force's national security

"Although it was lawful to visit an unlicensed massage parlour, as a senior police officer like him who heads a sensitive key post, his behaviour left an awful impression on society, whereas members of the public and even the force's own members question his integrity," a senior officer said on condition of anonymity.

"And now he will oversee the force's training and discipline? What shall he tell those who are accused of misconduct or those new recruits who are being trained in police college? It's a fatal blow to the force's integrity management."

Another insider said: "Choi should be whiter than white. Officers can use Choi as an example and find excuses for their alleged misconduct. He should at least be put on leave until the disciplinary hearing is over."

Choi was the No. 2 officer at the national security department of the police when he was caught during a raid on the Viet Spa in Wan Chai where illegal sex services were being offered. He was put on leave in March, but according to Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee, Choi still faced a disciplinary hearing, but would begin at his new post in the coming week.

Siu says Choi was cleared of criminal charges

The Department of Justice completed its review of the case last week and cleared Choi of any criminal charges. 

When asked whether Choi was fit for his new role, Siu replied," As we have confirmed no crime elements were involved in the incident, and as Choi has served the force for more than 25 years, we are confident in his work capability."

No one else in the force is just as capable, if not more?

During the raid, six women with Hong Kong identity cards were arrested on suspicion of running a vice establishment, while four people were later charged with the crime. In June a man accused of operating the spa appeared at Eastern Court, along with three women. They were charged with six offences, including four related to offering sex in an establishment.

In Hong Kong it is an offence to run an unlicensed massage establishment, with offenders facing up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,440). Buying sexual services at such premises is not illegal.

Viet Spa was raided here in Wan Chai

If that is the case then Choi is cleared, but the optics of him being reassigned to another post are not good, and it seems like the force is divided on this issue.

The integrity of the force was already on shaky ground, and this just adds more to cracks...