Court jails Hong Kong TV star Mat Yeung, rejects appeal against 18-day prison sentence for careless driving
- Mr Justice Johnny Chan labels Yeung’s original plea ‘capricious’ and says the TVB actor showed only an ‘average’ level of remorse
- The 41-year-old crashed his Mercedes-Benz on August 8, 2020, in Mid-Levels and was charged for careless driving and illegally tinting his car windows
Hong Kong television star Mat Yeung Ming lost his appeal against an 18-day jail sentence for careless driving, after the judge highlighted there was “ironclad” proof against him and the penalty was already lenient given the seriousness of the offence.
The 41-year-old TVB actor on Thursday left the High Court in a prison van as he was immediately escorted to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre to serve the jail term a magistrate had imposed on him last year.
Mr Justice Johnny Chan Jong-herng found sufficient basis to jail Yeung as he was under the influence of alcohol when he crashed his black Mercedes-Benz in Mid-Levels two years ago, adding the artist had failed to learn from his past driving offences.
“The appellant’s driving manner in the present case can be said to be continuously bad. The appellant, at the time, drove the vehicle regardless of the influence of alcohol on him, at the expense of other road users’ safety,” Chan said in his written verdict. “I accept [prosecutors’] submission that the court must mete out a deterrent penalty to the appellant.”
Chan also highlighted Yeung’s “capricious” plea during the trial stage and said he deserved a longer period behind bars given the “average” level of his remorse.