Man admits disclosing identities of persons under ICAC probe
2012-12-10
A garage operator, charged by the ICAC, admitted at Eastern Magistracy today (Monday) that he had disclosed to flat owners of a building that two office-bearers of its Incorporated Owners (IO) were the subjects of an ICAC investigation.
Lam Lap-kei, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing identities of persons being investigated of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed under Part II of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the POBO.
Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to December 31 this year for sentence, pending community service order and probation reports. The defendant was granted cash bail of $3,000.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was the operator of a garage situated at a lane adjacent to a residential cum commercial building in Wan Chai.
On May 18 this year, an ICAC officer interviewed the defendant and took a witness statement regarding a corruption allegation against the chairlady and vice-chairman of the IO of the building.
The defendant was provided with a copy of his statement on the same day, while a second copy was given to him on May 31 this year upon his request.
On both occasions, the ICAC officer reminded the defendant of Section 30 of the POBO. In reply, the defendant said he understood the provision.
Section 30 of the POBO states that it is an offence for any person, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to disclose to others that certain persons are subjects of an ICAC investigation.
The court heard that on June 5 this year, a flat owner of the building discovered a set of documents, including the defendant’s statement made to the ICAC, was placed at the gate of her flat and other units of the building.
Upon an instruction from the IO’s chairlady, a caretaker retrieved a total of 64 copies of the documents from the units of the building.
After being arrested by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted in a cautioned interview that he had placed one set of the documents outside each unit of the building to alert the owners to the corrupt dealings of the IO of the building, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kits Wong.
Lam Lap-kei, 55, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing identities of persons being investigated of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed under Part II of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the POBO.
Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai adjourned the case to December 31 this year for sentence, pending community service order and probation reports. The defendant was granted cash bail of $3,000.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was the operator of a garage situated at a lane adjacent to a residential cum commercial building in Wan Chai.
On May 18 this year, an ICAC officer interviewed the defendant and took a witness statement regarding a corruption allegation against the chairlady and vice-chairman of the IO of the building.
The defendant was provided with a copy of his statement on the same day, while a second copy was given to him on May 31 this year upon his request.
On both occasions, the ICAC officer reminded the defendant of Section 30 of the POBO. In reply, the defendant said he understood the provision.
Section 30 of the POBO states that it is an offence for any person, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to disclose to others that certain persons are subjects of an ICAC investigation.
The court heard that on June 5 this year, a flat owner of the building discovered a set of documents, including the defendant’s statement made to the ICAC, was placed at the gate of her flat and other units of the building.
Upon an instruction from the IO’s chairlady, a caretaker retrieved a total of 64 copies of the documents from the units of the building.
After being arrested by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted in a cautioned interview that he had placed one set of the documents outside each unit of the building to alert the owners to the corrupt dealings of the IO of the building, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kits Wong.