As a testament to his character, this is unlikely to help.
In his bid to lobby for early release, a long-term prisoner had his girlfriend write a letter pretending to be the widow of a fireman who died fighting a blaze in 2016, thanking him for a message of condolence that he never sent.
Chan Ho-kei’s attempt to present himself as the type of inmate inclined to pen notes of sympathy backfired, however, when a prison staff member checked with the supposed sender of a note thanking the 43-year-old for his concern, according to Apple Daily.
Contacted by prison authorities, Lydia, the widow of firefighter Cheung Yiu-sing, one of two firemen died fighting a four-alarm blaze at a rental storage facility in 2016, said she had never corresponded with Chan, who’s been held in Shek Pik prison for 19 years.
The case was then reported to police who, upon tracing the letter and checking prison visitor records, identified Chan’s girlfriend Law Ka-wai as the author.
A hearing yesterday at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court heard that Law, 41, confessed that she had sent the letter in August 2016.
She said it was sent because Chan wanted to impress the Correctional and Service Department to approve his early release application. Chan’s crime for which he was imprisoned was not mentioned during the hearing.
The pair are now accused of violating the falsification of documents ordinance, something authorities are known to frown upon.
Law is released on bail and is not allowed to contact Chan. The case will continue on September 27.
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