Banker's Son Imprisoned for Second Theft Offence

THE son of leading banker Sir Quo-wei Lee was sent to prison for three months yesterday for stealing a bottle of champagne only 21/2 months after he was put on probation for a similar offence.

George Lee Wing-chi looked pale when he was brought before Western Court Magistrate Henry Mierczak, who remanded him in custody two weeks ago for sentence pending a probation officer's report.

Lee, 43, a company director, had earlier admitted one count of stealing a $168 bottle of Jacques de Toy champagne from the Chef Chateau coffee shop in Central on July 29.

Defence counsel Charles Ching QC submitted that probation officer Chan Wai-ling recommended open supervision with a condition that Lee and his family members attend family therapy.

Mr Ching urged the court to consider the recommendation and to either continue with the 18-month probation order made in April or to make a fresh order in similar terms.

Passing sentence, Mr Mierczak said: 'Stealing from retail shops is a serious offence and a prison sentence is called for.' He was satisfied that Mr Ching, the probation officer and Lee's family doctors had done everything possible for him and that he had been dealt with very leniently by the court.

However, he suffered a relapse only 21/2 months after he was placed on probation for a similar offence.

Mr Mierczak said a prison sentence, not a substantial one, was proper in view of all the circumstances of the case and especially when Lee could be given both psychiatric and psychological treatment in prison.

Mr Ching had earlier indicated in mitigation that despite the relapse which gave rise to the present offence, Lee had made tremendous progress in medical treatment to help him resist the impulse to steal.

The court heard Lee had suffered brain damage as a result of car accidents and had difficulties resisting his impulses.