Parent charged by ICAC admits bribing government school headmistress for primary one placement
2023-3-14
A parent, charged by the ICAC, today (March 14) admitted at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts that she had offered a bribe of $20,000 in cash to a headmistress of a government primary school in a bid to secure a primary one placement for her son. The incident was revealed in a corruption complaint filed by the school.
Li Junping, 45, housewife, today pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case to March 28 for sentence, pending the defendant’s background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The principal magistrate said it was understandable that parents would try to secure the best school placements for their children. Nevertheless, it must be done within the limits of the law and one should never resort to unfair means. The offence committed by the defendant was serious in nature as she had premediated in offering the bribe for her personal gain, causing unfairness to pupils who earned their placements by their own talents.
The ICAC reminds parents to strictly follow the established procedures when making school admission applications for their children. Parents should never offer bribes in exchange for school placements. The ICAC has published a Best Practice Checklist for Governance and Internal Control in Schools, which covers corruption prevention advice on admission of students. (cpas.icac.hk/EN/Info/Lib_List?cate_id=3&id=238)
The court heard that on June 1 and 2, 2022, the Education Bureau (EDB) released the results of central allocation for primary one admission for September 2022. Parents who were dissatisfied with the results could apply directly to their preferred schools for admission for their children. No fee was required for an application for primary one placement made through the EDB.
On June 6, 2022, Hennessy Road Government Primary School (Causeway Bay) received an application form for primary one placement of the defendant’s son. Her son attended an admission interview in mid-June 2022, but he was not invited by the school for a second interview.
The defendant went to the school on July 18, 2022 and requested the headmistress to reconsider her son’s application. At this juncture, the defendant offered a bribe of $20,000 in cash to the headmistress for securing a primary one placement for her son. The offer was rejected and a corruption complaint was filed with the ICAC by the school on the same day. The school placement application of the defendant’s son was eventually unsuccessful.
EDB prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting any advantage from parents for securing primary one placement from any school.
The ICAC highly praised the school for reporting corruption and rendering full assistance together with the EDB to the anti-graft agency during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Nicole Law.
Li Junping, 45, housewife, today pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case to March 28 for sentence, pending the defendant’s background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The principal magistrate said it was understandable that parents would try to secure the best school placements for their children. Nevertheless, it must be done within the limits of the law and one should never resort to unfair means. The offence committed by the defendant was serious in nature as she had premediated in offering the bribe for her personal gain, causing unfairness to pupils who earned their placements by their own talents.
The ICAC reminds parents to strictly follow the established procedures when making school admission applications for their children. Parents should never offer bribes in exchange for school placements. The ICAC has published a Best Practice Checklist for Governance and Internal Control in Schools, which covers corruption prevention advice on admission of students. (cpas.icac.hk/EN/Info/Lib_List?cate_id=3&id=238)
The court heard that on June 1 and 2, 2022, the Education Bureau (EDB) released the results of central allocation for primary one admission for September 2022. Parents who were dissatisfied with the results could apply directly to their preferred schools for admission for their children. No fee was required for an application for primary one placement made through the EDB.
On June 6, 2022, Hennessy Road Government Primary School (Causeway Bay) received an application form for primary one placement of the defendant’s son. Her son attended an admission interview in mid-June 2022, but he was not invited by the school for a second interview.
The defendant went to the school on July 18, 2022 and requested the headmistress to reconsider her son’s application. At this juncture, the defendant offered a bribe of $20,000 in cash to the headmistress for securing a primary one placement for her son. The offer was rejected and a corruption complaint was filed with the ICAC by the school on the same day. The school placement application of the defendant’s son was eventually unsuccessful.
EDB prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting any advantage from parents for securing primary one placement from any school.
The ICAC highly praised the school for reporting corruption and rendering full assistance together with the EDB to the anti-graft agency during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Nicole Law.