A 29-year-old cop and his sister-in-law were fined HK$5,000 on Thursday after the former was caught driving a private hire car without a permit when he was off duty in June this year.
Apart from the fine, the police officer also saw his driving license suspended for 15 months.
Cheung Ka-keung pleaded guilty to driving a car for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward and driving a vehicle without third-party insurance. Nurse Ip Tung-chi, 24, pleaded guilty to soliciting others to travel in a private car for hire or reward.
Police on June 3 found out Ip was offering illegal hire car service on auction website Carousell and mounted an operation, sending an undercover police officer to contact her and hire the car.
On June 17, the undercover cop got on board the car driven by Cheung and traveled from Lai Chi Kok Road in Cheung Sha Wan to Hoi Ting Road in Mong Kok. Cheung, who charged HK$1,388 for the ride, was arrested by the undercover cop as they reached the destination.
The duo was officially arrested and charged by police on November 4, who sought advice from the Department of Justice.
In mitigation, the defense counsel said the duo only wanted to make extra money to provide for their families, as Ip is expecting her second child and Cheung has a wedding coming. The counsel added Cheung would face disciplinary action, and the incident has cost him a lot.
Cheung Ka-keung pleaded guilty to driving a car for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward and driving a vehicle without third-party insurance. Nurse Ip Tung-chi, 24, pleaded guilty to soliciting others to travel in a private car for hire or reward.
Police on June 3 found out Ip was offering illegal hire car service on auction website Carousell and mounted an operation, sending an undercover police officer to contact her and hire the car.
On June 17, the undercover cop got on board the car driven by Cheung and traveled from Lai Chi Kok Road in Cheung Sha Wan to Hoi Ting Road in Mong Kok. Cheung, who charged HK$1,388 for the ride, was arrested by the undercover cop as they reached the destination.
The duo was officially arrested and charged by police on November 4, who sought advice from the Department of Justice.
In mitigation, the defense counsel said the duo only wanted to make extra money to provide for their families, as Ip is expecting her second child and Cheung has a wedding coming. The counsel added Cheung would face disciplinary action, and the incident has cost him a lot.