Woman in court over $430,000 factory canteen licence fraud
2015-10-9
A woman appeared in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy today (Friday) after being charged by the ICAC for her alleged role in a $430,000 fraud in relation to an application for a factory canteen licence.
Paulina Yau Tsui-yee, 42, unemployed, who was charged on Wednesday (October 7), faced two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong adjourned the case until December 4 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged fraud offences.
At the material time, Fung Kam-lin was one of the authorised representatives of the owner of a major portion of a floor of Mai Shun Industrial Building in Kwai Chung (the premises).
In mid 2012, two persons intended to rent the premises to run a canteen. They sought advice from the defendant as they had to obtain a factory canteen licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).
Such a licence would be granted if an applicant had complied with all the structural and safety requirements of various government departments, including the Buildings Department (BD).
One of the charges alleged that between July 1, 2012 and February 25, 2013, the defendant, together with her father, falsely represented that her father was an architect; both she and her father had expertise and substantial working experience in the field of structural engineering works; and she was working in Union Consultant Engineers (UCE) associated with Ng Chi Chai Engineers & Architects (NCC).
With intent to defraud, the defendant allegedly induced Fung to engage her and her father to reinstate a shear wall at the premises, and to part with a total of $265,000.
ICAC enquiries revealed that UCE had never existed, and the principal of NCC confirmed that the defendant was never an employee of NCC.
Another charge alleged that between July 1, 2012 and July 5, 2013, the defendant, together with her father, also falsely represented that the toilet in the premises was classified as unauthorised building works (UBWs), and a fresh building and structural plan had to be prepared and submitted to the BD to enable the premises to be used as a canteen.
With intent to defraud, the defendant allegedly induced Fung to engage her and her father to prepare the said building and structural plan, and to part with another sum of $166,000. ICAC enquiries revealed that the toilet had never been classified as UBWs.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000. She was ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The FEHD and the BD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Andy Yu.
Paulina Yau Tsui-yee, 42, unemployed, who was charged on Wednesday (October 7), faced two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong adjourned the case until December 4 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged fraud offences.
At the material time, Fung Kam-lin was one of the authorised representatives of the owner of a major portion of a floor of Mai Shun Industrial Building in Kwai Chung (the premises).
In mid 2012, two persons intended to rent the premises to run a canteen. They sought advice from the defendant as they had to obtain a factory canteen licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).
Such a licence would be granted if an applicant had complied with all the structural and safety requirements of various government departments, including the Buildings Department (BD).
One of the charges alleged that between July 1, 2012 and February 25, 2013, the defendant, together with her father, falsely represented that her father was an architect; both she and her father had expertise and substantial working experience in the field of structural engineering works; and she was working in Union Consultant Engineers (UCE) associated with Ng Chi Chai Engineers & Architects (NCC).
With intent to defraud, the defendant allegedly induced Fung to engage her and her father to reinstate a shear wall at the premises, and to part with a total of $265,000.
ICAC enquiries revealed that UCE had never existed, and the principal of NCC confirmed that the defendant was never an employee of NCC.
Another charge alleged that between July 1, 2012 and July 5, 2013, the defendant, together with her father, also falsely represented that the toilet in the premises was classified as unauthorised building works (UBWs), and a fresh building and structural plan had to be prepared and submitted to the BD to enable the premises to be used as a canteen.
With intent to defraud, the defendant allegedly induced Fung to engage her and her father to prepare the said building and structural plan, and to part with another sum of $166,000. ICAC enquiries revealed that the toilet had never been classified as UBWs.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000. She was ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The FEHD and the BD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Andy Yu.