A former Health Surveillance Supervisor of the Department of Health (DoH), charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to three months' imprisonment for soliciting and accepting unauthorised loans totalling over $180,000 from his subordinates.

The defendant, 42, had earlier pleaded guilty to 31 counts of being a prescribed officer soliciting and accepting monetary advantages without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).

In accordance with Section 12 of POBO, Fanling Magistrate Mr Symon Wong ordered the defendant to pay to the Government the unsettled loan of $136,020 by monthly instalments of $3,000, commencing on June 1 this year.

The court heard that the defendant joined the DoH in August 2008 as a Health Surveillance Supervisor until September 2009 when his contract expired.

The defendant was posted to the Man Kam To Port Health Office as one of the direct supervisors of eight Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) between December 2008 and May 2009.

During the aforesaid period, the defendant had on 29 separate occasions asked the eight HSAs for loans ranging from $470 to $20,000.

The court heard that the defendant had used various excuses to borrow from his subordinates, including cash flow problems arising from his business in the Mainland, and that he needed money to pay phone bills or rent, buy food for his son, and repay his creditors.

He accepted $148,770 from the eight HSAs, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive.

The defendant had also solicited another $40,000 from two of the above HSAs.

The DoH has rendered full assistance to the ICAC throughout the investigation.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Angel Lui.