Last batch of defendants sentenced for sick leave fraud
2015-8-25
The last batch of defendants, who earlier pleaded guilty to ICAC charges of using false sick leave certificates to deceive sickness allowances and/or discretionary bonuses totalling over $13,300, were today (Tuesday) sentenced at the Fanling Magistracy.
The defendants were Man Kam-tung, 28, Leung Tit-kwan, 30, Lee Hung-pang, 42, and Au Ka-tung, 46, all former telebet services assistants (TSAs) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
In ordering them to perform community service ranging from 81 hours to 180 hours, Magistrate Colin Wong Sze-cheung said the offences committed by the defendant were serious in nature.
The magistrate added that he imposed community service orders on the defendants after taking into account their guilty pleas and various factors, including their repayments for allowances and/or discretionary bonuses.
The defendants were among 25 former staff members of the Department of Health (DoH) or the HKJC charged by the ICAC for the sick leave scams. They earlier pleaded guilty in four separate cases to a total of 43 counts of using false instruments, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The cases arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that at the material time, Man Kam-tung, Leung Tit-kwan, Lee Hung-pang and Au Ka-tung were employed by the HKJC as TSAs to receive telephone bets from customers, while Man Kam-tung was also a full-time play assistant of Playright Children’s Play Association (PCPA).
Chan Tung was a registered Chinese medicine practitioner practising at Tung Yan Chinese Medicine Company (Tung Yan) in Tai Po.
The court heard that between December 2011 and April 2013, the four defendants submitted to the HKJC and PCPA a total of 108 certificates for sick leave, which purportedly showed that Chan Tung had examined them and diagnosed that they were suffering from various illnesses.
As a result, the four defendants obtained a total of 195 days of sick leave, and sickness allowances and/or discretionary bonuses amounting to over $13,300.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendants admitted that they bought the certificates for sick leave at $30 each from Chan Tung, and that they had never attended Tung Yan or received medical consultation from him, the court was told.
Apart from the four defendants, other defendants, aged between 23 and 54, were four former health surveillance assistants of the DoH – Wong Ka-man, Tse Chi-hang, Lee Wing-ka and Kei Pui-sheung; and 17 former TSAs of the HKJC – Cheung Ho-lung, Ng Siu-ming, So Lai-har, Wong Tak-wai, Tsui Wai-fai, Hui Siu-fung, Ho Chi-fan, Chu Long-tat, Lam Chak-yin, Ho Sai-man, Cheung Siu-fai, Fan Ling-kwong, Pauline Lam Po-ning, Lok Ka-wing, Patricia Yip Wai-man, Ng Cheuk-kai and Fung Siu-ha.
After pleading guilty to a total of 193 charges of using false instruments or conspiracy to use false instruments at the Fanling Magistracy, Cheung Siu-fai was earlier sentenced to a probation order of 12 months, while the remaining defendants were ordered to perform community service ranging from 100 hours to 200 hours.
Chan Tung, 60, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier pleaded guilty to his roles in various cases, and was jailed for eight months at the Fanling Magistracy.
The DoH, the HKJC and PCPA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Patrick Yu.
The defendants were Man Kam-tung, 28, Leung Tit-kwan, 30, Lee Hung-pang, 42, and Au Ka-tung, 46, all former telebet services assistants (TSAs) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
In ordering them to perform community service ranging from 81 hours to 180 hours, Magistrate Colin Wong Sze-cheung said the offences committed by the defendant were serious in nature.
The magistrate added that he imposed community service orders on the defendants after taking into account their guilty pleas and various factors, including their repayments for allowances and/or discretionary bonuses.
The defendants were among 25 former staff members of the Department of Health (DoH) or the HKJC charged by the ICAC for the sick leave scams. They earlier pleaded guilty in four separate cases to a total of 43 counts of using false instruments, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The cases arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that at the material time, Man Kam-tung, Leung Tit-kwan, Lee Hung-pang and Au Ka-tung were employed by the HKJC as TSAs to receive telephone bets from customers, while Man Kam-tung was also a full-time play assistant of Playright Children’s Play Association (PCPA).
Chan Tung was a registered Chinese medicine practitioner practising at Tung Yan Chinese Medicine Company (Tung Yan) in Tai Po.
The court heard that between December 2011 and April 2013, the four defendants submitted to the HKJC and PCPA a total of 108 certificates for sick leave, which purportedly showed that Chan Tung had examined them and diagnosed that they were suffering from various illnesses.
As a result, the four defendants obtained a total of 195 days of sick leave, and sickness allowances and/or discretionary bonuses amounting to over $13,300.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendants admitted that they bought the certificates for sick leave at $30 each from Chan Tung, and that they had never attended Tung Yan or received medical consultation from him, the court was told.
Apart from the four defendants, other defendants, aged between 23 and 54, were four former health surveillance assistants of the DoH – Wong Ka-man, Tse Chi-hang, Lee Wing-ka and Kei Pui-sheung; and 17 former TSAs of the HKJC – Cheung Ho-lung, Ng Siu-ming, So Lai-har, Wong Tak-wai, Tsui Wai-fai, Hui Siu-fung, Ho Chi-fan, Chu Long-tat, Lam Chak-yin, Ho Sai-man, Cheung Siu-fai, Fan Ling-kwong, Pauline Lam Po-ning, Lok Ka-wing, Patricia Yip Wai-man, Ng Cheuk-kai and Fung Siu-ha.
After pleading guilty to a total of 193 charges of using false instruments or conspiracy to use false instruments at the Fanling Magistracy, Cheung Siu-fai was earlier sentenced to a probation order of 12 months, while the remaining defendants were ordered to perform community service ranging from 100 hours to 200 hours.
Chan Tung, 60, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier pleaded guilty to his roles in various cases, and was jailed for eight months at the Fanling Magistracy.
The DoH, the HKJC and PCPA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Patrick Yu.