Ex-team manager of HK Water Polo Team charged by ICAC with fraud over $410,000 government training allowances
2024-4-10
A former team manager of the Hong Kong, China’s Water Polo Team (HK Water Polo Team) was charged by the ICAC yesterday (April 9) for allegedly deceiving the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) into releasing government training allowances totalling over $410,000 by falsifying training records of athletes.
Koo Yu-fat, 62, former Honorary Secretary of the Water Polo Committee of the Hong Kong China Swimming Association (HKCSA) and former team manager of the Water Polo Team, faces one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 11) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.
In January 2018, the Home Affairs Bureau, launched the Five-year Development Programme for Team Sports (the Five-year Programme) which aimed at improving the performance of various team sports in Hong Kong. The Five-year Programme was taken over by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) in July 2022.
The HKCSA was responsible for promoting swimming sports and managing various local swimming sports teams, including the HK Water Polo Team. Under the Five-year Programme, a monthly allowance of $4,000 would be released to an athlete nominated by HKCSA, provided that the athlete attended at least 80 per cent of the scheduled training sessions.
At the material time, the defendant was the Honorary Secretary of the HK Water Polo Committee of the HKCSA and the team manager of the HK Water Polo Team. He was responsible for submitting the monthly training records of athletes of the HK Water Polo Team to the HKSI for verification.
It is alleged that between the January 2018 and September 2021, the defendant falsely represented to the HKSI that athletes of the HK Water Polo Team nominated under the Five-year Programme had attended all training sessions stipulated in their respective training records so as to deceive the HKSI into releasing allowances totalling $412,000.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint in relation to the release of allowance. Enquiries revealed that the defendant had allegedly falsified the number of training hours of the HK Water Polo Team when preparing their monthly training records, purporting that team members had met the 80 per cent attendance requirement in applying the allowance.
Had the HKCSA or the HKSI known that the training records of the athletes concerned contained any false information, they would not have processed the applications or released the relevant grant to the athletes.
The CSTB, the HKSI and the HKCSA have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged approach of law enforcement, prevention and education. In early 2024, the ICAC organised the Integrity Leadership Training for managerial staff from more than 40 National Sports Associations (NSAs) with a view to strengthening their governance and internal control on, among others, applications for subsidy/allowance and the selection of athletes. The ICAC will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders in enhancing the corruption prevention capabilities and integrity management of NSAs.
Koo Yu-fat, 62, former Honorary Secretary of the Water Polo Committee of the Hong Kong China Swimming Association (HKCSA) and former team manager of the Water Polo Team, faces one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 11) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.
In January 2018, the Home Affairs Bureau, launched the Five-year Development Programme for Team Sports (the Five-year Programme) which aimed at improving the performance of various team sports in Hong Kong. The Five-year Programme was taken over by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) in July 2022.
The HKCSA was responsible for promoting swimming sports and managing various local swimming sports teams, including the HK Water Polo Team. Under the Five-year Programme, a monthly allowance of $4,000 would be released to an athlete nominated by HKCSA, provided that the athlete attended at least 80 per cent of the scheduled training sessions.
At the material time, the defendant was the Honorary Secretary of the HK Water Polo Committee of the HKCSA and the team manager of the HK Water Polo Team. He was responsible for submitting the monthly training records of athletes of the HK Water Polo Team to the HKSI for verification.
It is alleged that between the January 2018 and September 2021, the defendant falsely represented to the HKSI that athletes of the HK Water Polo Team nominated under the Five-year Programme had attended all training sessions stipulated in their respective training records so as to deceive the HKSI into releasing allowances totalling $412,000.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint in relation to the release of allowance. Enquiries revealed that the defendant had allegedly falsified the number of training hours of the HK Water Polo Team when preparing their monthly training records, purporting that team members had met the 80 per cent attendance requirement in applying the allowance.
Had the HKCSA or the HKSI known that the training records of the athletes concerned contained any false information, they would not have processed the applications or released the relevant grant to the athletes.
The CSTB, the HKSI and the HKCSA have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC has always strived to maintain local sports integrity through a three-pronged approach of law enforcement, prevention and education. In early 2024, the ICAC organised the Integrity Leadership Training for managerial staff from more than 40 National Sports Associations (NSAs) with a view to strengthening their governance and internal control on, among others, applications for subsidy/allowance and the selection of athletes. The ICAC will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders in enhancing the corruption prevention capabilities and integrity management of NSAs.