Aussie jockey in HK gets jail for selling tips

HONG KONG - AUSTRALIAN champion jockey Chris Munce was sentenced to 21/2 years' imprisonment yesterday for taking bribes for racing tips in a landmark Hong Kong case.

The case cast a shadow over his illustrious career, highlighted by a 1998 Melbourne Cup victory.

His wife, Cathy, broke down in tears after District Judge Kevin Browne announced the sentence and her husband was taken into custody.

She yelled, 'you'll never get anyone here again,' as she left the courtroom, apparently warning that the conviction would scare off foreign jockeys from competing in Hong Kong.

The stocky Munce, who wore a black suit, blue shirt and pink tie, kept his composure.

After being convicted in the morning, he returned to court to hear his sentence without a tie.

The judge said Munce 'undermined the integrity of racing,' adding that 'iconic' jockeys such as the Australian had a huge following and are seen as role models by younger jockeys.

'For an offence of this kind, an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable,' he said.

Munce's lawyer, John McNamara, declined to say if his client planned to appeal.

Prosecutor John Dunn said he expected Munce to appeal and to apply for bail, although he said it was difficult to obtain because he needed to prove the likelihood of a successful challenge.

He said Munce's jail term could be reduced to 20 months, if he behaves well in prison.

Dunn said Munce's case is the first time a jockey has been convicted for accepting bribes in return for tips in Hong Kong.

Earlier, Munce's lawyer challenged the conviction in an animated argument with the judge.

He said Munce broke Hong Kong racing rules that ban jockeys from betting, but that he did not commit a criminal offence and that the matter should be handled by local racing officials, not a court of law.

The judge replied: 'He's selling secret information by virtue of giving tips. That's the criminality I find.'

McNamara also argued that no one suffered financially from Munce's scheme, calling it a 'victimless crime'.

Judge Browne said: 'What about the reputation of racing? It attracts huge public interest.'

Prosecutors said during the trial that Munce provided tips to Hong Kong businessman Andy Lau 17 times, covering races involving 29 horses from December 2005 to May 2006.

They said Lau betted for Munce and relayed the winnings to him through a middleman.

The tips allegedly covered races that Munce raced in.

He was found carrying a betting slip and HK$250,000 (S$50,000) in cash when he was arrested on July 3, 2006, after meeting Lau at a hotel, prosecutors said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS