Four years for CSD officer soliciting and accepting bribes from prisoner
2006-12-22
An Officer of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for soliciting and accepting advantages from a prisoner for helping the latter apply for early release under the Prisoners (Release Under Supervision) Ordinance (the Ordinance).
Lee Yee-tak, 51, was earlier convicted of two counts of public servant soliciting an advantage, and one of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, District Court Deputy Judge Sham Siu-man reprimanded the defendant for showing no remorse throughout the trial. In view of the serious bribery offences and the substantial amount of money involved, the court must mete out a deterrent sente nce, the judge added.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was posted at Stanley Prison, where he became acquainted with a prisoner under his supervision.
On January 10 this year, the defendant asked the prisoner if he was interested in applying for early release under the Ordinance. He told the prisoner that he could assist in his application and demanded $300,000.
The prisoner declined the defendant's offer, putting up an excuse that his money was kept by his wife who was not in Hong Kong at that time.
On January 30 this year, the defendant repeated his solicitation to the prisoner and told him that he was willing to reduce his "fee" to $200,000.
The defendant later gave the prisoner a mobile phone number, and asked the latter to tell his wife to communicate with him and arrange for the payment of $200,000. The defendant also told the prisoner that his wife should address him as "Paul".
On February 11, an ICAC officer, posed as the prisoner's wife, contacted the defendant by calling the number he gave the prisoner. The defendant suggested meeting her at a restaurant in Central.
Outside the restaurant, the ICAC officer handed to the defendant a white envelope containing 20 genuine $1,000 banknotes and 180 copied banknotes.
Shortly after the defendant and the officer parted, the defendant was arrested by ICAC officers. The above envelope containing the marked money and a mobile phone installed with a SIM card of the same number the defendant had given to the prisoner were r ecovered from the defendant.
The case was today represented by prosecuting counsel Suen Kam-hee, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Tsui.
Lee Yee-tak, 51, was earlier convicted of two counts of public servant soliciting an advantage, and one of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, District Court Deputy Judge Sham Siu-man reprimanded the defendant for showing no remorse throughout the trial. In view of the serious bribery offences and the substantial amount of money involved, the court must mete out a deterrent sente nce, the judge added.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was posted at Stanley Prison, where he became acquainted with a prisoner under his supervision.
On January 10 this year, the defendant asked the prisoner if he was interested in applying for early release under the Ordinance. He told the prisoner that he could assist in his application and demanded $300,000.
The prisoner declined the defendant's offer, putting up an excuse that his money was kept by his wife who was not in Hong Kong at that time.
On January 30 this year, the defendant repeated his solicitation to the prisoner and told him that he was willing to reduce his "fee" to $200,000.
The defendant later gave the prisoner a mobile phone number, and asked the latter to tell his wife to communicate with him and arrange for the payment of $200,000. The defendant also told the prisoner that his wife should address him as "Paul".
On February 11, an ICAC officer, posed as the prisoner's wife, contacted the defendant by calling the number he gave the prisoner. The defendant suggested meeting her at a restaurant in Central.
Outside the restaurant, the ICAC officer handed to the defendant a white envelope containing 20 genuine $1,000 banknotes and 180 copied banknotes.
Shortly after the defendant and the officer parted, the defendant was arrested by ICAC officers. The above envelope containing the marked money and a mobile phone installed with a SIM card of the same number the defendant had given to the prisoner were r ecovered from the defendant.
The case was today represented by prosecuting counsel Suen Kam-hee, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Tsui.