Jockey undermined integrity of racing in HK, says judge
A District Court judge jailed champion jockey Christopher Munce for 21/2 years yesterday after convicting him of trading racing tips with a businessman in return for bets from which he netted nearly HK$1 million in winnings.
Munce, 37, an Australian, is the first jockey to be jailed in Hong Kong for giving tips for bets on horses he was riding.
Judge Kevin Browne found Munce guilty of one count of conspiracy to accept an advantage. The judge ordered the confiscation of a mobile phone and HK$250,000 in cash found in Munce's jeans when he was arrested by Independent Commission Against Corruption officers outside a Kowloon hotel on July 3 after meeting businessman Andy Lau Wai-ching.
Passing sentence, Judge Browne said Munce had breached the 'high degree of trust' required of him and had severely undermined public confidence in the integrity of horse racing in Hong Kong.
Munce's tips were of a high quality, with a success rate of 72 per cent, the judge said. The jockey had tipped horses he rode in 36 races, of which 18 had won and eight were placed.