Chinese Says He Has Been Persecuted

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 662, 14 May 1929, Page 11

Chinese Says He Has Been Persecuted

“SPITE OF THE FONGS” REPLY TO FRAUD CHARGES “THERE’S a lot of ill-feeling between the Fongs and myself— I think it’s like another Chinese civil war,” declared Albert Hong Duk, a young Chinese charged with theft and false pretences, as he stood in the witness-box at the Supreme Court today. “It’s the

spite of the Fongs,” he repeated. TTONG DUK, whose trial began yesterday, was charged with obtaining £92 12s 6d from another young Chinese by falsely representing that the money was necessary to obtain extensions of a temporary immigration permit. There were also two charges of theft of monies totalling £33 2s 4d. Accused was represented by Mr. F. W. Schramm, and Mr. V. N. Hubble prosecuted. The final witness for the prosecution, Detective P. J. Nalder, said he had interviewed accused oil April 17. He told Hong Duk that he had come to see him .concerning statements made by Ying*. When he was told this, accused said: “I’ve been waiting for a warrant to be issued, and I would then have surrendered myself.” Accused admitted that he had not applied to the Customs Department for any extension of Ying’s permit. “I then asked him why he had been getting money from Ying,” said the detective, “and accused replied that he had only go* £l9 from him.” Witness went on to say that the cheque for £SO which was paid to him was not a payment from Ying* through agents, hut just a loan from a Chinese named Wall Joo to whom he was nearly £2OO in debt. When asked if he knew that he was being charged with false pretences, accused replied: “It’s the spite of the Fongs—there are between 30 and 40 of them in Auckland, and they want to get me into gaol.” This closed the case for the prosecution. _ , Mr. Schramm then outlined the defence and called Hong Duk to give evidence. ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE Describing himself as a clerk, he said he first met Ying in Fiji five years ago. The only money he received from him was £5 last November, £9 in December and £5 in January. Ying also asked him to buy some clothes and things for him, and when witness told him he had no money he handed over £5 to be used for that purpose. Later he asked witness to come to the races, lending him £9, as he could not afford to go otherwise. In explanation of the £SO cheque, accused said he had had business relations with a Chinese named Wai Fong Jue since 1924. The cheque was merely a loan from Jue to himself paid over shortly before Jue left for China. “Sin Soo Ying is a Fong,” he said, and there’s a lot of ill-feeling between the Fongs and myself.” Mr. Hubble: You were friendly with Ying about Christmas time?” •‘Yes,” replied -witness. “Yet when the customs officers asked you about Ying, you said he was in Palmerston North.” “Wai Joo, who is In China, told me to tell them that,” replied accused. “So Ying’s story about paying you the £SO is all made up?” “Yes, he is a Fong,” said witness. Duk finished his evidence before the luncheon adjournment.