Trio jailed for conspiracy to forge roadworthiness certificates
2015-6-18
Three former and serving employees of a motor service company, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) sentenced to jail terms up to two years at the District Court for conspiracy to forge certificates of roadworthiness (CORs) for private cars and light goods vehicles.
Lung Wai-hing, 36, a service manager of Dah Chong Hong (Motor Service Centre) Limited (DCH), received a jail term of two years. Liu Sun-hung, 61, a former foreman of DCH, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, while Chan Wai-chong, 54, a foreman of DCH, was jailed for 10 months.
In sentencing, Judge Eddie Yip Chor-man reprimanded the defendants for undermining the car testing system. Of them, Lung had to bear the greatest responsibility as he was the service manager.
The judge added that the court had to mete out custodial sentences to the defendants so as to serve as a deterrence.
Liu earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to forge documents, contrary to Section 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, while Lung and Chan were found guilty of the same offence.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendants were employees of DCH. They stationed at a car testing centre (CTC) in Kowloon Bay, which was appointed by the Transport Department (TD) to conduct annual roadworthiness examination for private cars and light goods vehicles.
Lung was the service manager and overall-in-charge of the CTC, while Liu and Chan were its foremen.
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 at any designated CTC appointed by the TD.
After passing the roadworthiness examination at a CTC, each vehicle will be issued with a COR by an approved car tester (ACT) on behalf of the CTC for the vehicle owner to renew the licence of the vehicle.
The court heard that between March 12, 2007 and November 7, 2011, the defendants gave instructions to 11 ACTs and other persons 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, those ACTs would use the results of other vehicles purportedly as the test results.
The ACTs 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 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.
Lung Wai-hing, 36, a service manager of Dah Chong Hong (Motor Service Centre) Limited (DCH), received a jail term of two years. Liu Sun-hung, 61, a former foreman of DCH, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, while Chan Wai-chong, 54, a foreman of DCH, was jailed for 10 months.
In sentencing, Judge Eddie Yip Chor-man reprimanded the defendants for undermining the car testing system. Of them, Lung had to bear the greatest responsibility as he was the service manager.
The judge added that the court had to mete out custodial sentences to the defendants so as to serve as a deterrence.
Liu earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to forge documents, contrary to Section 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, while Lung and Chan were found guilty of the same offence.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendants were employees of DCH. They stationed at a car testing centre (CTC) in Kowloon Bay, which was appointed by the Transport Department (TD) to conduct annual roadworthiness examination for private cars and light goods vehicles.
Lung was the service manager and overall-in-charge of the CTC, while Liu and Chan were its foremen.
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 at any designated CTC appointed by the TD.
After passing the roadworthiness examination at a CTC, each vehicle will be issued with a COR by an approved car tester (ACT) on behalf of the CTC for the vehicle owner to renew the licence of the vehicle.
The court heard that between March 12, 2007 and November 7, 2011, the defendants gave instructions to 11 ACTs and other persons 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, those ACTs would use the results of other vehicles purportedly as the test results.
The ACTs 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 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.