Carson Yeung freed on bail after Hong Kong court allows him to appeal dirty-money conviction
Former Birmingham City boss released on HK$7 million bail and cash surety of HK$6 million, told to surrender travel documents
Convicted money launderer and former English Premier League soccer chairman Carson Yeung Ka-sing was freed from jail today after Hong Kong’s top court granted him the right to challenge his conviction.
Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li released the ex-Birmingham City owner on HK$7 million bail and cash surety of HK$6 million, and ordered the hairdresser-turned-businessman to surrender his travel documents and not leave Hong Kong.
The decision came four months after the businessman, who was jailed in March last year, lost an earlier application to challenge his conviction in the Court of Appeal, and it means he is no longer behind bars in maximum-security Stanley Prison.
As a condition of his release, Yeung must report to the police station at The Peak three times a week.
Ma said he granted Yeung leave to appeal based on legal questions raised in written submissions by barrister Clare Montgomery QC. His appeal hearing is slated for May 31 next year.
After being granted bail, Yeung was held up at the Court of Final Appeal building for almost eight hours due to administrative procedures before leaving with his wife, lawyer and aides.
"[I keep] a peaceful mind, and thank God," a grey-haired Yeung told the jostling media waiting outside the building.
