HK legislator to defend Chinese men in ‘floating’ shabu lab case

DAY IN COURT Four Chinese (their backs turned to camera), accused of manufacturing and possessing illegal drugs, plead innocent during their arraignment in Olongapo City. ALLAN MACATUNO / INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

OLONGAPO CITY—A Hong Kong legislator on Saturday visited the Olongapo City District Jail to provide legal assistance to the four Chinese who were found on a ship suspected to be used as a “floating” shabu laboratory that was seized recently in Zambales province.

James To Kun-Sun was accompanied by Filipino lawyer Jeffrey John Zarate and relatives of the detained men when he gathered statements to prepare the defense of Win Fai Lao, Shu Fook Leung, Kam Wah Kwok, and Kowk Tung Chan.

To, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, said, “We are here to  prove that they are really innocent. We are urging the Philippine authorities to investigate [the case] thoroughly.”

The Democratic Party legislator was previously on the spotlight for assisting Chinese nationals following the 2010 Manila bus siege. A police operation to rescue Chinese tourists taken hostage by disgruntled former policeman Rolando Mendoza led to the deaths of eight visitors from Hong Kong.

The four Chinese men were arrested on July 11 when the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group boarded a 50-meter-long fishing vessel that had been anchored for days in the sea off the town of Subic.

One of the men possessed a plastic bag containing 467.8 grams of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

To said he would ask the Hong Kong government to assist his four countrymen as they stand trial before Judge Raymond Viray of the Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 75.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera had charged the Chinese men for manufacturing illegal drugs and for possessing contraband. The Chinese men pleaded innocent to both charges during their arraignment on Friday.  Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon