A serious allegation was made in the Provisional Court on November 14 before Judge Kuh and Mr. J. Van den Borg, the Senior Consul's Deputy, by an alleged armed robber against his lawyer, Mr, Koo Kuo-ping, this being to the effect that Mr, Koo suggested that he should say in Court that he had eon tortured by the Police. Mr. Koo took strong exception to questions put by the Senior Consul's Deputy but a rider was added to the judgment thit "the accused has, in answer to questions from the Deputy, stated that his lawyer, Mr. Koo, who now wishes to withdraw from the case, suggested that he should plead torture."
The case was one in which the accused was charged with armed robbery from various places, including a house in Baikal Road.
Mr. C. S. Keen appeared for the prosecution and Mfr. Koo Kung-ping for the accused.
Mr. Keen said that, during the remand, accused had' made two statements admitting the charges. He admitted having taken pact in various robberies and said that he stood outside the doors of the houses where the robberies were being committed, on guard, and that he had a pistol. He also admitted receiving $60.
The complainant in the Baikal Road robbery said that he could rot identify any of the robbers: hho had been threatened with death if he informed the police of the robbery.
Mr. Koo remarked that when accused asked him to take up his ease, he said that he did not commit. any of the robberies and it was on that understanding that he accepted the case. Coursel now that accused had made enfessions at the last hearing.
The Judge replied that accused already bad confessed to one, The Accused's Statement Accused was then questioned and he said that the statements which he had made to the police were untrue, He made them because he jeould not do anything else as he was being tortured. Witness mentioned certain dates on which he had been in Ningpo.
The Judge said that those dates were before the robberies.
Accused said that he was afraid to mention that he was tortured, when he wes in Court before.
'Mr. Van den Berg asked witness if, at the last hearing, he were afraid, how was it that he was not afraid' now?
Witness—I wanted some help. eric. Van den Borg—So you got Accused—Yes.
Mr. Van den Berg—Did Mr. Koo suggest that you should say you had been tortured?
Mr. Koo at this juncture protest-the way the questions were being put and said that they were leading questions. It was, he said, most unfortunate. At the police station, he had refused to sce nejeused unless there were detectives Present, Mr, Van den Berg then remarked that this was not the first time that this sort of thing had happened and Mr. Keen observed that it wns very strange that accused should have changed his statements as. soon as he got counsel.
Mr. Koo said that this was most unfortunate for him and informed ithe Court that, when he went to the police station, he interviewed scoused in the presence of detect ives. Me wound up by asking the Court to appoint another lawyer to take charge of accused's interests: hho wished to withdraw.
Achinese detective then testified that there was no torture and that accused made his statements in an entirely voluntary manner, 'A remand was ordered,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.