Son 'pressed police' to investigate doctor
Businessman quoted 'famous family' to push for action against radiologist who gave his philanthropist mother pills, court told
The son of late philanthropist Anita Chan Lai-ling told a police officer her job was at risk unless action was taken against a radiologist who prescribed drugs to his mother before her death, a court heard yesterday.
The female radiologist, Dr Yau Yat-yin, denies one count of supplying a dangerous drug to a person not authorised or licensed to have it. Eastern Court earlier heard that Yau had prescribed Chan more than 5,900 antidepressant pills and two painkilling patches in the four years before her death.
Quoting a transcript of a conversation after Anita Chan's death in October 2007, defence lawyer Giles Surman asked Anson Chan Yiu-cheung why he told the officer "my family is a famous philanthropic family" and said he would "complain to the Legislative Council".
He also told her "you would not want to fail to keep your post as a government official", the court heard.
But Anson Chan questioned whether the officer had correctly understood him, and said even the youngest officer knew he did not have such influence. He said everyone had a right to complain to Legco.
"What [Surman] described as pressure, I'd say they are my concerns," said Chan, CEO of Bonds Group, a company founded by Anita Chan and her husband, educationalist Chan Shu-kui.
Anson Chan was also asked about the relationship between his mother and the defendant, who has been described as her goddaughter.
