Eleven car testers jailed for forging roadworthiness certificates
2015-6-16
Eleven former and serving Approved Car Testers (ACTs) of a car testing centre, charged by the ICAC, were today (Tuesday) sentenced to jail terms up to five months at the District Court for conspiring to forge certificates of roadworthiness (CORs) for private cars and light goods vehicles.
Of the defendants, Lee Kin-ming, 48, an ACT of Dah Chong Hong (Motor Service Centre) Limited (DCH), received a jail term of five months.
The remaining 10 defendants – Chan Yiu-keung, 51, Tang Siu-kwong, 53, Chan Man-po, 43, Leung Chin-hung, 44, Leung Wing-fai, 38, Lo Chi-hung, 51, Ma Man-chung, 47, Law Kwok-sum, 41, and Lam Sik-wa, 50, all ACTs of DCH, and Chan Chi-wai, 46, former ACT of DCH – were each jailed for three months.
In sentencing, Judge Eddie Yip Chor-man said he imposed custodial sentences on the defendants in view of their breach of trust, the seriousness of their offence and the public interest involved.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a joint charge of conspiracy to forge documents, contrary to Section 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that according to the Road Traffic Ordinance (RTO), all private cars of six years or above and light goods vehicles not exceeding 1.9 tonnes are required to undertake an annual roadworthiness examination.
A COR will be issued by an ACT on behalf of a car testing centre (CTC) for the vehicle owner to renew the licence of the vehicle.
At the material time, the defendants were ACTs of DCH stationed at a CTC in Kowloon Bay which was appointed by the Transport Department (TD) to conduct the roadworthiness examination, the court heard.
Between March 12, 2007 and November 7, 2011, the defendants acted on instructions given by a service manager and two foremen to be lax with the roadworthiness examination of vehicles presented by various garages, so that the CTC could secure more business.
When the vehicles were unable to pass the brake or smoke emission tests, the defendants would use the results of other vehicles purportedly as the test results.
The defendants then issued to the vehicle owners false CORs purporting that their vehicles were roadworthy and complied with the requirements of the RTO. As a result, the owners used those CORs to renew their vehicle licences with the TD, the court was told.
The TD and the management of the DCH had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Po-wing, assisted by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.
Of the defendants, Lee Kin-ming, 48, an ACT of Dah Chong Hong (Motor Service Centre) Limited (DCH), received a jail term of five months.
The remaining 10 defendants – Chan Yiu-keung, 51, Tang Siu-kwong, 53, Chan Man-po, 43, Leung Chin-hung, 44, Leung Wing-fai, 38, Lo Chi-hung, 51, Ma Man-chung, 47, Law Kwok-sum, 41, and Lam Sik-wa, 50, all ACTs of DCH, and Chan Chi-wai, 46, former ACT of DCH – were each jailed for three months.
In sentencing, Judge Eddie Yip Chor-man said he imposed custodial sentences on the defendants in view of their breach of trust, the seriousness of their offence and the public interest involved.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a joint charge of conspiracy to forge documents, contrary to Section 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that according to the Road Traffic Ordinance (RTO), all private cars of six years or above and light goods vehicles not exceeding 1.9 tonnes are required to undertake an annual roadworthiness examination.
A COR will be issued by an ACT on behalf of a car testing centre (CTC) for the vehicle owner to renew the licence of the vehicle.
At the material time, the defendants were ACTs of DCH stationed at a CTC in Kowloon Bay which was appointed by the Transport Department (TD) to conduct the roadworthiness examination, the court heard.
Between March 12, 2007 and November 7, 2011, the defendants acted on instructions given by a service manager and two foremen to be lax with the roadworthiness examination of vehicles presented by various garages, so that the CTC could secure more business.
When the vehicles were unable to pass the brake or smoke emission tests, the defendants would use the results of other vehicles purportedly as the test results.
The defendants then issued to the vehicle owners false CORs purporting that their vehicles were roadworthy and complied with the requirements of the RTO. As a result, the owners used those CORs to renew their vehicle licences with the TD, the court was told.
The TD and the management of the DCH had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Po-wing, assisted by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.