DSSOPT Case

William Kuan’s habeas corpus petition rejection by top court explained

Macau’s Court of Final Appeal (TUI) has released an explanation for its rejection of businessman William Kuan’s habeas corpus petition.

According to a statement from the Office of the President of TUI, the top court pointed out that Kuan’s pre-trial detention had already concluded, and he had commenced serving his sentence.

Therefore, the TUI said that the assumptions and grounds of the habeas corpus application cannot stand.

While the decision to dismiss the petition was made in January, the court’s detailed reasons were only disclosed Sunday.

Kuan was one of the defendants in the “Public Works Case,” which involved several businessmen and two former directors of the Public Works Bureau, all found guilty of various criminal offenses. Kuan has been in custody since December 2021.

Initially sentenced to 18 years in prison, his sentence was subsequently reduced to five and a half years by the Court of Second Instance. Currently, Kuan is awaiting the outcome of the prosecution’s appeal seeking to reinstate the original 18-year sentence. Staff Reporter

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