Three people, including a solicitor, have been convicted by the District Court of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to a corruption investigation. A barrister charged in the same case was also found guilty of attempting to disclose information about the identity of a protected witness.

Businessman Wong Chong-kwong, 38, company director Mandy Chui, 25, and solicitor Andrew Lam, 55, were found guilty on one joint charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Chui was further convicted of one count of attempted perjury.

Barrister Kevin Egan, 59, was convicted of two charges of attempting to disclose information about the identity of a participant in the witness protection programme.

Chief Judge Barnabas Fung will continue to deliver his reasons for verdict tomorrow.

Wong, Chui and Lam conspired to pervert the course of justice between July 11 and 17, 2004. The trio, knowing that Wong and others had been arrested in an ongoing investigation and that criminal proceedings were possible, obstructed and hindered the inquiry by seeking to gain access to a person who they believed to be assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The trio had sought to ascertain what the witness said to investigators and influence her against providing assistance.

Chui alone was found guilty on one count of attempted perjury on July 16, 2004.

Egan was convicted of two counts of attempting to disclose to a newspaper reporter information about the identity of a participant in the witness protection programme on July 15, 2004, and on another occasion on the same date.

Wong, Chui and Lam were remanded in custody, while Egan was granted $50,000 bail with $50,000 in surety.