Policewoman charged by ICAC gets nine months’ jail for soliciting and accepting over $1m unauthorised loans
2022-8-19
A Woman Police Constable, charged by the ICAC, was today (August 19) sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts for soliciting an unauthorised loan of $1 million from a complainant of a theft case and accepted a loan of $60,000 from an arrestee of a fighting case.
Au Kar-man, 47, earlier pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to the aforementioned incidents – one of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, and one of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Lau Suk-han reprimanded the defendant for soliciting and accepting advantages respectively from a suspect and a witness of criminal cases, which would affect her impartiality when carrying out her official duties and undermine the reputation of the Police, adding that the case was serious in nature. The magistrate meted out a nine months’ jail term after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and repayment of the money concerned.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was posted to a District Investigation Team of Eastern District. In November 2019, the defendant was assigned to handle a theft case involving a restaurant and interviewed the complainant of the case.
On January 8, 2020, the defendant made a phone call to the complainant and asked for a $1 million loan. She had also sent mobile phone text messages to the complainant, offering to sign an “IOU” and repaying $20,000 together with an interest of $5,000 each month to the complainant. The request was turned down.
The court also heard that in late August 2019, the defendant was assigned to conduct a cautioned interview with an arrestee of a fighting case. The case was closed in late September 2019 due to insufficient evidence. However, the defendant and the arrestee had maintained contacts thereafter.
On May 8, 2020, the defendant told the arrestee that she was in need of money and solicited a loan of $60,000 from the latter. The defendant said she was willing to repay the arrestee with an interest of $20,000 within two weeks. The arrestee did not require the defendant to pay any interest and lent her $60,000 on May 11, 2020.
The defendant had never sought any special permissions from the Chief Executive regarding her above solicitation and acceptance of loans.
The ICAC investigation arose from a referral by the Police which had rendered full assistance to the Commission during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Antony Leung, assisted by ICAC officers Blanche Yiu and Stephen Liu.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the ICAC attaches great importance to civil service integrity and has been working closely with the Police to provide integrity training and regular refresher courses to all new recruits and serving staff of the Police to heighten their awareness of corruption prevention, and to enhance their alertness to corruption, conflict of interest and other integrity challenges.
Au Kar-man, 47, earlier pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to the aforementioned incidents – one of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, and one of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Lau Suk-han reprimanded the defendant for soliciting and accepting advantages respectively from a suspect and a witness of criminal cases, which would affect her impartiality when carrying out her official duties and undermine the reputation of the Police, adding that the case was serious in nature. The magistrate meted out a nine months’ jail term after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and repayment of the money concerned.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was posted to a District Investigation Team of Eastern District. In November 2019, the defendant was assigned to handle a theft case involving a restaurant and interviewed the complainant of the case.
On January 8, 2020, the defendant made a phone call to the complainant and asked for a $1 million loan. She had also sent mobile phone text messages to the complainant, offering to sign an “IOU” and repaying $20,000 together with an interest of $5,000 each month to the complainant. The request was turned down.
The court also heard that in late August 2019, the defendant was assigned to conduct a cautioned interview with an arrestee of a fighting case. The case was closed in late September 2019 due to insufficient evidence. However, the defendant and the arrestee had maintained contacts thereafter.
On May 8, 2020, the defendant told the arrestee that she was in need of money and solicited a loan of $60,000 from the latter. The defendant said she was willing to repay the arrestee with an interest of $20,000 within two weeks. The arrestee did not require the defendant to pay any interest and lent her $60,000 on May 11, 2020.
The defendant had never sought any special permissions from the Chief Executive regarding her above solicitation and acceptance of loans.
The ICAC investigation arose from a referral by the Police which had rendered full assistance to the Commission during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Antony Leung, assisted by ICAC officers Blanche Yiu and Stephen Liu.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the ICAC attaches great importance to civil service integrity and has been working closely with the Police to provide integrity training and regular refresher courses to all new recruits and serving staff of the Police to heighten their awareness of corruption prevention, and to enhance their alertness to corruption, conflict of interest and other integrity challenges.