IO chairman charged by ICAC with forgery over Anti-epidemic Fund allowance and subsidy
2022-2-25
The ICAC today (February 25) charged the chairman of the incorporated owners (IO) of a building in Prince Edward with forgery and using copies of false instruments in relation to applications for allowance for a security guard and a cleaner of the building and subsidy for the IO under the Anti-epidemic Fund.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the IO chairman.
Tsui Chiu-cheung, 62, chairman of the IO of Comfort Court, faces three charges – two of forgery, contrary to Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance; and one of using copies of false instruments, contrary to Section 74 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (March 1) for plea.
In February 2020, the government launched the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Property Management Sector under the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide a monthly hardship allowance of $1,000 to security guards and cleaners working at eligible buildings, and a subsidy of $2,000 to every eligible building for procuring cleaning products.
The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) was responsible for processing applications made by owners’ organisations, including IOs, and property management companies, and arranging release of payments. After receiving payments, the applicant would distribute the allowance to the relevant security guards and cleaners who were required to acknowledge receipt of it.
At the material time, the defendant was the chairman of the IO of Comfort Court, a private composite building in Prince Edward. A security guard and a part-time cleaner were employed by the IO.
Two of the charges allege that on or about April 14 and November 19, 2020, the defendant made three false instruments with the intention that he should use them to induce somebody to accept them as genuine.
It is alleged that the false instruments were a letter to PMSA from the IO of Comfort Court in relation to the above allowance and purportedly signed by members of the IO, as well as two receipts signed by the security guard and part-time cleaner concerned. However, investigations revealed that all signatures were forged.
The remaining charge alleges that on or about November 19, 2020, the defendant used copies of instruments, namely three receipts purportedly signed by the above security guard and part-time cleaner, which were and which he knew or believed to be false with the intention of inducing somebody to accept them as copies of genuine instruments.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the PMSA had approved the two applications made by the defendant and released allowance and subsidy totalling $11,000 to the IO. The security guard had only received part of the allowance while the part-time cleaner had never received any allowance.
The IO of Comfort Court and the PMSA have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the IO chairman.
Tsui Chiu-cheung, 62, chairman of the IO of Comfort Court, faces three charges – two of forgery, contrary to Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance; and one of using copies of false instruments, contrary to Section 74 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (March 1) for plea.
In February 2020, the government launched the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Property Management Sector under the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide a monthly hardship allowance of $1,000 to security guards and cleaners working at eligible buildings, and a subsidy of $2,000 to every eligible building for procuring cleaning products.
The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) was responsible for processing applications made by owners’ organisations, including IOs, and property management companies, and arranging release of payments. After receiving payments, the applicant would distribute the allowance to the relevant security guards and cleaners who were required to acknowledge receipt of it.
At the material time, the defendant was the chairman of the IO of Comfort Court, a private composite building in Prince Edward. A security guard and a part-time cleaner were employed by the IO.
Two of the charges allege that on or about April 14 and November 19, 2020, the defendant made three false instruments with the intention that he should use them to induce somebody to accept them as genuine.
It is alleged that the false instruments were a letter to PMSA from the IO of Comfort Court in relation to the above allowance and purportedly signed by members of the IO, as well as two receipts signed by the security guard and part-time cleaner concerned. However, investigations revealed that all signatures were forged.
The remaining charge alleges that on or about November 19, 2020, the defendant used copies of instruments, namely three receipts purportedly signed by the above security guard and part-time cleaner, which were and which he knew or believed to be false with the intention of inducing somebody to accept them as copies of genuine instruments.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the PMSA had approved the two applications made by the defendant and released allowance and subsidy totalling $11,000 to the IO. The security guard had only received part of the allowance while the part-time cleaner had never received any allowance.
The IO of Comfort Court and the PMSA have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.