Drugs Case Dropped Against Police Officer's Relative

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been urged to explain why it decided to drop a drug trafficking charge against a relative of a Hong Kong police officer, despite opposition from the magistrate handling the case.

The 22-year-old woman, who lives in a police quarters, was arrested and charged with trafficking almost three kilogrammes of ketamine in December.

But public prosecutors asked for the charge to be dropped due to "insufficient evidence", even though the magistrate said there was a high chance the woman could be convicted.

The magistrate reluctantly approved the request.

Legal sector lawmaker Dennis Kwok, who is also a barrister, said the case involved a large amount of drugs, and other people in a similar situation would at the very least be charged with possession of illegal drugs.

He said the move to drop the case against the woman gives the public the impression that police officers and their family members get special treatment.

"I would urge the director of public prosecutions to come out and explain why they have decided to withdraw the charges," said Kwok.

"Especially when the public are already deeply concerned about the neutrality, impartiality of the prosecution system now practised by the DOJ."