Life sentence prisoner charged by ICAC for offering $300,000 bribe to CSD Officer
2022-9-20
A prisoner of Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre (Siu Lam), who was sentenced to life imprisonment, was charged by the ICAC today (September 20) with offering a bribe of $300,000 to a Principal Officer of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) in charge of the ward the inmate was incarcerated.
Ada Tsim Sum-kit, 48, faces one count of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. She will be brought to the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts for plea on Thursday (September 22).
On July 15, 2021, the defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. At the material time, the defendant was incarcerated in Siu Lam for assessment of her mental status. CSD Officers, including a Principal Officer in charge of the defendant’s ward, would record the behaviours of the defendant in her nursing notes which might be used for her psychiatric assessment.
It is alleged that on November 6, 2021, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, while having dealings of any kind with the CSD, offered $300,000 to the above Principal Officer.
ICAC inquiries revealed that at two earlier one-to-one counselling sessions, the defendant told the Principal Officer that she thought the latter could or wanted the latter to help her to stay in Siu Lam, so that she could be released a few years after incarceration.
The ICAC investigation arose from a referral by the CSD, which rendered full assistance to the Commission during its investigation into the case. Upon completion of the investigation, legal advice was sought from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the defendant.
Ada Tsim Sum-kit, 48, faces one count of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. She will be brought to the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts for plea on Thursday (September 22).
On July 15, 2021, the defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. At the material time, the defendant was incarcerated in Siu Lam for assessment of her mental status. CSD Officers, including a Principal Officer in charge of the defendant’s ward, would record the behaviours of the defendant in her nursing notes which might be used for her psychiatric assessment.
It is alleged that on November 6, 2021, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, while having dealings of any kind with the CSD, offered $300,000 to the above Principal Officer.
ICAC inquiries revealed that at two earlier one-to-one counselling sessions, the defendant told the Principal Officer that she thought the latter could or wanted the latter to help her to stay in Siu Lam, so that she could be released a few years after incarceration.
The ICAC investigation arose from a referral by the CSD, which rendered full assistance to the Commission during its investigation into the case. Upon completion of the investigation, legal advice was sought from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the defendant.