What did it happen?

The story can be dated back to 2000. The fucker here, Tsz-lung Lau (劉子龍), a police constable in Hong Kong joining the Force in 1998, was allegedly blackmailing his ex-girlfriend, Wai-shan Cho, by threatening to circulate her photos of nudity while having sex. In addition, Lau also threatened Cho's father by arresting his son in a case in which there is no likelihood or evidence that he had committed a crime against legal statute.

Timeline:

April, 1998 - Lau and Cho met for the first time after swimming at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool. They began as friends. After a few months, they entered the Police Training School together.

February, 1999 - Upon completion of their training, they started seeing each other romantically.

July, 1999 - Cho borrowed HKD $30,000 from Lau, as he father was in need of money for the renovation of his apartment.

March, 2000 - Lau and Cho ended their relationship. Cho started dating another police constable whereas Cho's father had borrowed an additional amount of HKD $30,000 from Lau.

July, 2000 - Cho started the pre-marital cohabitation with her new boyfriend. Enraged, Lau started harassing Cho's father by threatening phone calls.

August, 2000 - Lau said that he would release the nude photos of Cho and arrest Cho's brother for with justifiable cause.

October, 2000 - Cho's father lodged a formal complaint via The Complaints Against Police Office (CAPO).

April, 2002 - Lau for arrested for "Criminal Intimidation" and "Lending money at an effective rate of interest which exceeds 60 per cent per annum".

What made him a real "fucker"?

• Jealousy in a despicable manner
  Threaten to publicize the nude photos of an ex-lover is a HUGE RED FLAG
• Offering loan at an exorbitant rate of interest
  According to Hong Kong law (The Money Lenders Ordinance), the maximum effective rate of interest on any loan at 60% per annum. Lau offered the loan to Cho's father at 72% per annum, based on the facts presented during the court hearing.

Outcome

Lau was eventually acquitted due to the principle of Benefit of Doubt, with the following reasons:

• Cho's father was unable to confirm the exact amount of his borrowing from Lau
• Cho was also a police constable and therefore Lau would not dare to blackmail her in such a manner
• Cho's father was claimed to have expressed dissatisfaction with Cho's new lover due to promiscuity

Tsz-lung LAU (劉子龍), who was at the aged of 26 during the court hearing in 2002

Wai-shan Cho (曹慧珊), ex-girlfriend of Lau's

Siu-wing Cho (曹紹榮), father of Wai-shan Cho

News coverage of the incident:

Sohu News - July 27, 2002

Additional information:

On October 26, 2022, the statutory interest rate cap for lending was lowered from 60% to 48% per annum. Read More.