28th March 2023 – (Hong Kong) A 31-year-old police officer stationed at the Traffic Department of the Southern District in the New Territories was driving his private car during his day off on 3rd April 2018. He was driving at a speed of over 131 kilometres per hour on the Sha Tin section of the Tai Po Road, where the speed limit was 70 kilometres per hour. As a result, he collided with a motorcycle, which caused the death of the motorcyclist. He denied the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but was found guilty after a trial at the district court.
The case was transferred to the West Kowloon Law Courts Building yesterday for sentencing. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison, suspended from driving for 5 years, and required to attend a driving improvement course. The judge stated that an innocent life was taken in the accident, and the sentence should have a deterrent effect, even if the defendant has no previous criminal record, which is not a valid mitigating factor.