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China's 'Big Spender' on trial
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| A poster advertises a movie about Cheung's allegedly criminal career | ||
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| Windows Media | 28K | 56K |
October 27, 1998
Web posted at: 6:34 p.m. EST (2334 GMT)
GUANGZHOU, China (CNN) -- He is alleged to be the kingpin of crime in Hong Kong, has the nickname of "Big Spender" and is already the stuff of a movie glorifying his career -- but now Cheung Tse-keung's fate hangs in the balance.
Cheung and more than 30 of his alleged gang members could face the death penalty if they are found guilty in the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court on charges of murder, kidnapping and robbery.
Cheung is said to be responsible for two of the most sensational kidnappings in recent Hong Kong history: the abduction of property magnate Walter Kwok, whose family runs the Sun Hung Kai development company, and of Victor Li, son of Hong Kong's wealthiest tycoon, Li Ka Shing.
The families of the victims, apparently reluctant to involve the police, were believed to have paid more than $200 million to win the release of the victims.
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| The courtroom is heavily guarded | |
Cheung's alleged criminal daring already has made him the stuff of popular mythology. As Big Spender's trial began a few days ago, a hastily produced movie glorifying his outlaw life opened at local theaters.
"He's not only a criminal, he's a genius," said director Andy Ng. "People admire his brains. No crime in the world can match the ransom he got for those kidnappings."
But even though moviegoers may admire the man's daring, his luck may run out soon as he is tried under China's secretive legal system.
Observers say the outcome will almost certainly be the death penalty for Cheung.
Big Spender and his cronies are now trying to avoid the death sentence by having the trial switched to Hong Kong.
Defense lawyers argue that many of the alleged crimes were committed in Hong Kong, but Chinese authorities have insisted on jurisdiction because they said they were planned and directed from mainland China.
Hong Kong Bureau Chief Mike Chinoy and Reuters contributed to this report.