Woman charged with bribery over applications of public housing and son’s identity card
2020-9-15
A woman has been charged by the ICAC today (September 15) with offering totalling over $4,000 to officers of the Housing Department (HD), the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and the Immigration Department (ImmD) for expediting her application for public housing and processing her son’s application for an identity card.
Chen Yujuan, 53, unemployed, faces five charges – four of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), and one of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the POBO.
The defendant will appear in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (September 17) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was a public rental housing (PRH) applicant awaiting flat allocation by the HD. She had also made an application with the SWD for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance.
In addition, the defendant applied for the Verification of Eligibility for the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (HKPIC Verification Application) for her son with the ImmD.
Three of the charges allege that on three occasions between March 2 and May 13, 2020, the defendant offered $2,040 to a Housing Officer of the HD, $40 to a Contract Property Services Officer of the HD, and $40 to a Social Work Officer of the SWD, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, as an inducement to or reward for assisting the defendant in expediting her application for PRH.
Another charge alleges that on April 23, 2020, while having dealings of any kind with the Hong Kong Government through the SWD, the defendant offered $800 to unidentified officers of the SWD without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
The remaining charge alleges that on December 5, 2019, the defendant offered $1,100 to a Clerical Assistant of the ImmD, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, as an inducement to or reward for assisting the defendant in processing the HKPIC Verification Application of her son without following the requisite procedures.
All aforesaid officers of the HD, SWD and ImmD did not accept the defendant’s offer.
The three departments have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance on Thursday.
Chen Yujuan, 53, unemployed, faces five charges – four of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), and one of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the POBO.
The defendant will appear in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (September 17) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was a public rental housing (PRH) applicant awaiting flat allocation by the HD. She had also made an application with the SWD for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance.
In addition, the defendant applied for the Verification of Eligibility for the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (HKPIC Verification Application) for her son with the ImmD.
Three of the charges allege that on three occasions between March 2 and May 13, 2020, the defendant offered $2,040 to a Housing Officer of the HD, $40 to a Contract Property Services Officer of the HD, and $40 to a Social Work Officer of the SWD, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, as an inducement to or reward for assisting the defendant in expediting her application for PRH.
Another charge alleges that on April 23, 2020, while having dealings of any kind with the Hong Kong Government through the SWD, the defendant offered $800 to unidentified officers of the SWD without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
The remaining charge alleges that on December 5, 2019, the defendant offered $1,100 to a Clerical Assistant of the ImmD, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, as an inducement to or reward for assisting the defendant in processing the HKPIC Verification Application of her son without following the requisite procedures.
All aforesaid officers of the HD, SWD and ImmD did not accept the defendant’s offer.
The three departments have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance on Thursday.