CHINESE FINED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1937, Page 11

CHINESE FINED

RAID ON OPIUM DEN

SECOND IN FORTNIGHT

Fines totalling £ 137 10s for opiumsmoking offences were imposed by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court today upon seven Chinese arrested yesterday in a jiolice raid on No. 21 Haining Street. The same premises were raided only a fortnight ago, when fin.es of ' several hundred pounds were imposed.

The keeper _of the premises, George Wong, charged on that occasion with being the occupier and with allowing the premises to be used for the smoking of opium, was then fined £100.' Wong was again charged this morning with being the keeper of the premises at the time of the police raid yesterday. He pleaded guilty.

Mr. Mosley said that he could not impose a smaller fine than on the previous occasion, and Wong was again fined £100, in default three months' imprisonment. Seven days were allowed for the payment of a substantial part of the fine.

Kg Kum Tong, a cook, aged 33, charged with being without lawful excuse on opium-smoking premises, was fined £25, in default two'months' imprisonment. Ah Kum, a gardener, aged 41, charged witlf the same offence;, was fined £15, in default six weeks' imprisonment, and fines of £12 10s, in default one month's imprisonment, were imposed on Shum Jok, a mine]:, aged 74, Sam Chong, a gardener, aged 56, Chan Wong, a fruiterer, aged 'S3, and Keim Lee, a laundryman. In each case seven days was allowed for the payment of a substantial part of ,the fine.

Sergeant P. Munro, who prosecuted, said that the premises were barricaded. When the police broke in there was a struggle to get out and one > Chinese escaped. Four said that they were' on the premises for the purpose of seeing friends. Prepared opium, seconds, .and the usual smoking paraphernalia;' was found. This was forfeited.