Twelve months’ jail for accepting $270,000 bribes over bogus insurance policies
2013-12-24
A former branch manager of an insurance company, charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for conspiring to accept about $270,000 in bribes from her subordinate in relation to bogus insurance policies.
Lai Ka-yee, 38, a former branch manager of Dah Sing Insurance Services Limited (Dah Sing Insurance), was earlier found guilty of one count of agents conspiring to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Se ction 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Ho Wai-yang said the defendant could not be spared from the jail term because she had abused her position and committed the serious bribery offence.
The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay a restitution of $270,000 to Dah Sing Insurance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a branch manager of Dah Sing Insurance. She was the direct supervisor of several insurance agents, including Wong Chi-wai.
As a branch manager, the defendant was required to reach the required sales targets and/or maintain certain number of productive down-line agents. If the defendant failed to do so, she might have her allowances and bonuses withheld and might even be demo ted or have her employment terminated.
The court heard that as Wong was unable to procure any insurance policy, the defendant proposed that she could source clients for him.
The defendant asked Wong to sign, as the handling agent, on a number of insurance policy application forms. But Wong had never met with the policy applicants or proposed insured.
Between July 2008 and October 2009, the defendant conspired with Wong to submit a total of 21 bogus insurance policy application forms to Dah Sing Insurance.
Upon the defendant’s request, Wong paid her bribes totalling about $270,000 being the monthly allowances and commissions he received from the company, the court was told.
Wong Chi-wai, 28, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier pleaded guilty to 13 counts of offering an advantage to an agent and one of agents conspiring to use documents with intent to deceive his principal. He will be sentenced at the Eastern Magistrac y on February 17 next year.
Dah Sing Insurance rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Po-wing, assisted by ICAC officer William Tam.
Lai Ka-yee, 38, a former branch manager of Dah Sing Insurance Services Limited (Dah Sing Insurance), was earlier found guilty of one count of agents conspiring to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Se ction 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Ho Wai-yang said the defendant could not be spared from the jail term because she had abused her position and committed the serious bribery offence.
The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay a restitution of $270,000 to Dah Sing Insurance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a branch manager of Dah Sing Insurance. She was the direct supervisor of several insurance agents, including Wong Chi-wai.
As a branch manager, the defendant was required to reach the required sales targets and/or maintain certain number of productive down-line agents. If the defendant failed to do so, she might have her allowances and bonuses withheld and might even be demo ted or have her employment terminated.
The court heard that as Wong was unable to procure any insurance policy, the defendant proposed that she could source clients for him.
The defendant asked Wong to sign, as the handling agent, on a number of insurance policy application forms. But Wong had never met with the policy applicants or proposed insured.
Between July 2008 and October 2009, the defendant conspired with Wong to submit a total of 21 bogus insurance policy application forms to Dah Sing Insurance.
Upon the defendant’s request, Wong paid her bribes totalling about $270,000 being the monthly allowances and commissions he received from the company, the court was told.
Wong Chi-wai, 28, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier pleaded guilty to 13 counts of offering an advantage to an agent and one of agents conspiring to use documents with intent to deceive his principal. He will be sentenced at the Eastern Magistrac y on February 17 next year.
Dah Sing Insurance rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Po-wing, assisted by ICAC officer William Tam.