Triad 'supergrass' is jailed for five years
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A TRIAD hit-man who shot a rival was jailed for five years after a court was told he became Britain's first Chinese supergrass and provided 'a unique insight' into a Chinese crime syndicate operating in this country.
Judge Bruce Laughland told George Wai Hen Cheung he would normally have faced 20 years' jail for his crimes but for the 'exceptional mitigating circumstances' - his information into the workings of the Sui Fong triad, one of four Chinese crime gangs operating in Britain.
Cheung's confession and courage in giving evidence against fellow gang members in the face of death threats and social ostracism from the Chinese community meant his sentence was 'far less than the wickedness' his crimes deserved, Judge Laughland told the Old Bailey yesterday.
He said: 'Those who wish to escape the terrifying turmoil of the Triads and in so doing serve the public interest will receive a most generous discount on the sentences otherwise merited.'
The judge said Triad organisations were 'secret, violent and vicious' and preyed on industrious and vulnerable Chinese people.
Cheung, 29, admitted at an earlier hearing a series of offences including grievous bodily harm, assaults, blackmail, arson, theft and supplying cannabis.
Last year he gave evidence against several fellow gang members in a trial at the Old Bailey.
Martin Heslop, for the prosecution, said Cheung was arrested by police after the shooting of a Hong Kong businessman in Chinatown, London in 1991. Cheung approached detectives and agreed to become an informant after being charged with the shooting. In a 1,400-page statement to police he gave one of the most detailed accounts of Sui Fong activities in the UK.
The result, Mr Heslop said, was 'the most significant breakthrough in detecting and combatting the Triads. Never before has an insider been prepared to break the oath of allegiance and provide an insight into . . . the Triads.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments