Ex-IO treasurer charged by ICAC sentenced for fraud over $165,000 secretarial service fees
2021-6-29
A former treasurer of the incorporated owners of a private residential building in Sham Shui Po, charged by the ICAC, was sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today (June 29) after admitting that he had deceived the incorporated owners into paying service fees for almost 14 years totalling about $165,000 by falsely representing that a part-time clerk was employed.
Tam Bing-vun, 79, former treasurer of the incorporated owners of Cheung Sha Mansion (the IO), was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei said the scam orchestrated by the defendant lasted a long period and constituted a breach of trust. Satisfying that the defendant had taken up the relevant secretarial duties for the IO, a suspended sentence was imposed on him having considered his guilty plea, remorse and willingness to make full repayment to the IO.
The defendant today pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that between 2002 and mid-2018, the defendant was the treasurer of the IO. According to the policy of the IO, its members would not be granted any salary or allowance for performing IO duties.
In September 2003, the IO resolved to employ a part-time clerk to handle its secretarial matters and a person purportedly introduced by the defendant was recruited. Since then, a cheque of ,000 had been issued to the part-time clerk as secretarial service fee each month.
Between October 2003 and June 2017, the IO had paid secretarial service fees totalling approximately $165,000.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the part-time clerk purportedly employed by the IO was a fictitious character made up by the defendant who had carried out the relevant secretarial duties. The defendant signed to acknowledge the part-time clerk’s receipt of the secretarial service fees, collected the fees and deposited them into his own bank account or bank accounts of his family members which were under his control.
The IO had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Susanna Ku, assisted by ICAC officer Potina Koo.
Tam Bing-vun, 79, former treasurer of the incorporated owners of Cheung Sha Mansion (the IO), was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei said the scam orchestrated by the defendant lasted a long period and constituted a breach of trust. Satisfying that the defendant had taken up the relevant secretarial duties for the IO, a suspended sentence was imposed on him having considered his guilty plea, remorse and willingness to make full repayment to the IO.
The defendant today pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that between 2002 and mid-2018, the defendant was the treasurer of the IO. According to the policy of the IO, its members would not be granted any salary or allowance for performing IO duties.
In September 2003, the IO resolved to employ a part-time clerk to handle its secretarial matters and a person purportedly introduced by the defendant was recruited. Since then, a cheque of ,000 had been issued to the part-time clerk as secretarial service fee each month.
Between October 2003 and June 2017, the IO had paid secretarial service fees totalling approximately $165,000.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the part-time clerk purportedly employed by the IO was a fictitious character made up by the defendant who had carried out the relevant secretarial duties. The defendant signed to acknowledge the part-time clerk’s receipt of the secretarial service fees, collected the fees and deposited them into his own bank account or bank accounts of his family members which were under his control.
The IO had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Susanna Ku, assisted by ICAC officer Potina Koo.