Government’s student financial assistance scheme applicant charged by ICAC with bribery
2023-4-4
An applicant of the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-Secondary Student (FASP) was charged by the ICAC yesterday (April 3) with offering a bribe of $500 to a staff member of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) in relation to her application.
Safia Kalsoom, aged 20, faces one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. She was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (April 6) for plea.
In June 2022, the defendant submitted an FASP application to the WFSFAA for financial assistance in respect of her second-year’s studies of a higher diploma course at Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education. The application was preliminarily approved by the WFSFAA and a full grant of tuition fee of over $80,000 would be provided to the defendant, subject to further verification of the income proof of her parents.
In July 2022, the WFSFAA released the first instalment of financial assistance of over $44,000 to the defendant and requested her to provide the income records of her parents issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). She was required to refund in full the financial assistance already disbursed to her if the relevant income records were not provided.
In late October 2022, an Assistant Clerical Officer of the WFSFAA received a mail from the defendant. The mail contained two completed forms which should be sent to the IRD requesting for her parents’ income records and a $500 banknote. Upon receipt of the matter, the WFSFAA referred it to the ICAC.
It is alleged that on or about October 24, 2022, the defendant offered $500 to the Assistant Clerical Officer for assisting or facilitating her application and not requiring her to refund the financial assistance already disbursed to her.
The WFSFAA has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds members of the public that bribing civil servants is a serious offence. They should never offer bribes in exchange for civil servants’ assistance or favour. The maximum penalty on conviction of the offence is a seven-year imprisonment and a fine of $500,000.
Safia Kalsoom, aged 20, faces one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. She was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (April 6) for plea.
In June 2022, the defendant submitted an FASP application to the WFSFAA for financial assistance in respect of her second-year’s studies of a higher diploma course at Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education. The application was preliminarily approved by the WFSFAA and a full grant of tuition fee of over $80,000 would be provided to the defendant, subject to further verification of the income proof of her parents.
In July 2022, the WFSFAA released the first instalment of financial assistance of over $44,000 to the defendant and requested her to provide the income records of her parents issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). She was required to refund in full the financial assistance already disbursed to her if the relevant income records were not provided.
In late October 2022, an Assistant Clerical Officer of the WFSFAA received a mail from the defendant. The mail contained two completed forms which should be sent to the IRD requesting for her parents’ income records and a $500 banknote. Upon receipt of the matter, the WFSFAA referred it to the ICAC.
It is alleged that on or about October 24, 2022, the defendant offered $500 to the Assistant Clerical Officer for assisting or facilitating her application and not requiring her to refund the financial assistance already disbursed to her.
The WFSFAA has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds members of the public that bribing civil servants is a serious offence. They should never offer bribes in exchange for civil servants’ assistance or favour. The maximum penalty on conviction of the offence is a seven-year imprisonment and a fine of $500,000.