Housing Officer charged as ICAC graft probe reveals illegal handling of public housing transfer applications
2022-10-12
A Housing Officer of the Housing Department (HD) was charged by the ICAC today (October 12) for allegedly handling two public housing unit transfer applications by using a document containing a false approval in breach of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), and forging a memo issued by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) to cover up his delays in handling the applications.
Pau Man-ho, 35, faces four charges – two of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the POBO; and one of criminal damage and one of forgery, respectively contrary to Section 60(1) and Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (October 14) for plea.
In 2014, when the defendant was posted to Kwai Chung Estate, he received an application from a tenant of the estate to add a relative to the tenancy for being transferred to a larger unit in the estate. The defendant was required to conduct an assessment to verify the eligibility of the application.
Two of the charges allege that in late November 2015, the defendant used two documents to mislead the HD. The documents were two inputs into a computer system of the HD which contained false statements that approvals were given by a Senior Housing Manager of the HD for the above transfer and a larger unit had been reserved for the tenant.
Another charge alleges that between December 2015 and May 2016, the defendant had, without any authorisation, destroyed a housing file concerning the above Kwai Chung Estate tenant.
Separately, in June 2020, when the defendant was posted to Fu Cheong Estate, he handled another request for a transfer of housing unit referred by the SWD via a memo dated June 16, 2020.
The charge alleges that between June and July 2021, the defendant falsely altered the above memo purporting that it was issued on June 18, 2021, with the intention that he or another should use it to induce somebody to accept it as genuine.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HD. Enquiries revealed that the defendant had allegedly resorted to the above illegal means to cover up his delays in handling the above applications. Upon completion of the investigation, legal advice was sought from the Department of Justice. Pursuant to the legal advice, the defendant was charged today.
The HD and SWD have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds civil servants and members of the public that under Section 9(3) of the POBO, any agent, including any employee, who uses any document which contains false or erroneous or defective statement in any material particular to mislead the principal, such as the employer, shall be guilty of an offence.
Pau Man-ho, 35, faces four charges – two of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the POBO; and one of criminal damage and one of forgery, respectively contrary to Section 60(1) and Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (October 14) for plea.
In 2014, when the defendant was posted to Kwai Chung Estate, he received an application from a tenant of the estate to add a relative to the tenancy for being transferred to a larger unit in the estate. The defendant was required to conduct an assessment to verify the eligibility of the application.
Two of the charges allege that in late November 2015, the defendant used two documents to mislead the HD. The documents were two inputs into a computer system of the HD which contained false statements that approvals were given by a Senior Housing Manager of the HD for the above transfer and a larger unit had been reserved for the tenant.
Another charge alleges that between December 2015 and May 2016, the defendant had, without any authorisation, destroyed a housing file concerning the above Kwai Chung Estate tenant.
Separately, in June 2020, when the defendant was posted to Fu Cheong Estate, he handled another request for a transfer of housing unit referred by the SWD via a memo dated June 16, 2020.
The charge alleges that between June and July 2021, the defendant falsely altered the above memo purporting that it was issued on June 18, 2021, with the intention that he or another should use it to induce somebody to accept it as genuine.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HD. Enquiries revealed that the defendant had allegedly resorted to the above illegal means to cover up his delays in handling the above applications. Upon completion of the investigation, legal advice was sought from the Department of Justice. Pursuant to the legal advice, the defendant was charged today.
The HD and SWD have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds civil servants and members of the public that under Section 9(3) of the POBO, any agent, including any employee, who uses any document which contains false or erroneous or defective statement in any material particular to mislead the principal, such as the employer, shall be guilty of an offence.