A defeated candidate of the 2007 District Council Election has been jailed nine weeks by Eastern Magistracy for offering free body-check services to electors in return for their votes.

Chan Tak-wai, 49, was convicted of offering advantages as inducements to vote in the election.

In October 2007 he submitted a nomination form to the Registration & Electoral Office to stand as a candidate for the Eastern District Council Healthy Village Constituency election.

He hired three nursing students to perform free body checks, including blood-pressure tests, and weight and height measurements, to residents at a booth near the estate, and to help him conduct electioneering activities.

Chan instructed them to give out souvenirs bearing his name and to urge the residents to vote for him on election day. At the same time the defendant was at the scene wearing his election sash canvassing votes from the residents and the recipients of the service.

Chan was also charged for failing to include election expenses in his election return. The trial was adjourned pending the result of his application for a relief order from the Court of First Instance.