Ex-manager of NGO charged by ICAC admits fraud over $10m EDB grant
2023-7-5
A then manager of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), charged by the ICAC, today (July 5) admitted at the District Court that she had conspired with others to deceive the Education Bureau (EDB) into granting funds totalling over $10 million in relation to applications for organising after-school activities for primary and secondary school students. The offences were revealed in the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC.
Mandy Man Hoi-yan, 33, then manager of School Support Association Limited (SSAL), pleaded guilty before Judge Mr Isaac Tam Sze-lok to two counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. Meanwhile, the prosecution offered no evidence to a charge of conspiracy to use copies of false instruments against the defendant. She was granted bail.
At the material time, Man was the manager of SSAL. The wife of SSAL’s director was the director of Childcare Association Limited (CAL). Both SSAL and CAL were NGOs approved by the EDB to implement the “School-based After-school Learning and Support Programmes – Community-based Projects” (the Programmes), which aimed at improving learning effectiveness of needy students and broadening their learning experiences outside classrooms by providing after-school activities at primary and secondary schools.
In the two school years of 2015/16 and 2016/17, the EDB granted funds of over $6.5 million and over $3.8 million to SSAL and CAL respectively under the Programmes for implementing 72 projects at a number of schools. Both SSAL and CAL were required to comply with the EDB’s approved budgets and the terms of the Grantee Agreements, including those in relation to tutors’ hourly rate, contract arrangements, etc.
The court heard that between March 2015 and April 2017, Man conspired with the director and staff of SSAL and CAL’s director to defraud the EDB by making false representations that the part-time tutors engaged in the 72 projects were contracted either with SSAL or CAL at an hourly rate of either $165 or $195.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Man and the abovementioned people made those false representations and showed bogus contracts of the tutors during supervisory visits to the schools by EDB officers and in the relevant reports submitted to the EDB by SSAL and CAL.
ICAC enquiries also revealed that the tutors were in fact contracted with another organisation at hourly rates ranging from $60 to $150. Had the EDB known that SSAL and CAL had provided any false information and records during the implementations of the Programmes, the EDB would have withheld the release of grants, rejected the applications or asked for refunds of any paid grants.
Ho Hin-wah, the then SSAL director concerned, 54, was also charged with the above three offences. He earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges, and will face trial on November 13.
The EDB had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officer William Leung.
Mandy Man Hoi-yan, 33, then manager of School Support Association Limited (SSAL), pleaded guilty before Judge Mr Isaac Tam Sze-lok to two counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. Meanwhile, the prosecution offered no evidence to a charge of conspiracy to use copies of false instruments against the defendant. She was granted bail.
At the material time, Man was the manager of SSAL. The wife of SSAL’s director was the director of Childcare Association Limited (CAL). Both SSAL and CAL were NGOs approved by the EDB to implement the “School-based After-school Learning and Support Programmes – Community-based Projects” (the Programmes), which aimed at improving learning effectiveness of needy students and broadening their learning experiences outside classrooms by providing after-school activities at primary and secondary schools.
In the two school years of 2015/16 and 2016/17, the EDB granted funds of over $6.5 million and over $3.8 million to SSAL and CAL respectively under the Programmes for implementing 72 projects at a number of schools. Both SSAL and CAL were required to comply with the EDB’s approved budgets and the terms of the Grantee Agreements, including those in relation to tutors’ hourly rate, contract arrangements, etc.
The court heard that between March 2015 and April 2017, Man conspired with the director and staff of SSAL and CAL’s director to defraud the EDB by making false representations that the part-time tutors engaged in the 72 projects were contracted either with SSAL or CAL at an hourly rate of either $165 or $195.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Man and the abovementioned people made those false representations and showed bogus contracts of the tutors during supervisory visits to the schools by EDB officers and in the relevant reports submitted to the EDB by SSAL and CAL.
ICAC enquiries also revealed that the tutors were in fact contracted with another organisation at hourly rates ranging from $60 to $150. Had the EDB known that SSAL and CAL had provided any false information and records during the implementations of the Programmes, the EDB would have withheld the release of grants, rejected the applications or asked for refunds of any paid grants.
Ho Hin-wah, the then SSAL director concerned, 54, was also charged with the above three offences. He earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges, and will face trial on November 13.
The EDB had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officer William Leung.