Prisoner and sister charged by ICAC admit bribing CSD’s Assistant Officer for introducing unauthorised articles to prison
2023-8-2
A prisoner and his younger sister, charged by the ICAC, today (August 2) admitted at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts that they had offered bribes totalling over $10,000 to an Assistant Officer II of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) for introducing various unauthorised articles into Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) for the prisoner.
Ng Tin-man, 35, prisoner of LCKRC; and his younger sister Ng Lok-ning, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to August 30 for sentence, pending the defendants’ background reports. Ng Lok-ning was granted bail, while Ng Tin-man remained remanded in the custody of the CSD.
At the material time, Ng Tin-man was remanded at LCKRC. He and all CSD officers were governed by the Prisons Ordinance and the Prison Rules, which prohibited CSD Officers from conveying any unauthorised articles to prisoners and communicating with prisoners or their relatives without proper authority.
The court heard that between May and August 2022, Ng Tin-man and Ng Lok-ning offered three bribes totalling $10,100 to an Assistant Officer II of the CSD posted to LCKRC for introducing unauthorised articles into LCKRC for Ng Tin-man.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the CSD. ICAC investigation revealed that Ng Lok-ning and the Assistant Officer II had communicated and met with each other without proper authority on several occasions. Ng Lok-ning had also passed to the Assistant Officer II various items, including two pairs of spectacles, cigarettes of a brand not specified by the CSD, lighters, notebooks and stationery.
Ng Tin-man and Ng Lok-ning admitted having offered bribes of over $10,000 as a reward for the Assistant Officer II to bring those articles into LCKRC for passing to Ng Tin-man. Investigation revealed that all those items were unauthorised articles that were neither approved hand-in articles from visitors nor canteen items available for prisoners to purchase.
Co-defendant Kam Wing-kan, 35, Assistant Officer II of the CSD, was charged with three counts of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the POBO. No plea was entered today and he was granted bail until September 13 for mention.
The CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Edward Wong.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that in collaboration with government departments, the ICAC reminds civil servants through education and publicity to maintain a high standard of integrity and abide by the law, so as to maintain public confidence in the civil service.
Ng Tin-man, 35, prisoner of LCKRC; and his younger sister Ng Lok-ning, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to August 30 for sentence, pending the defendants’ background reports. Ng Lok-ning was granted bail, while Ng Tin-man remained remanded in the custody of the CSD.
At the material time, Ng Tin-man was remanded at LCKRC. He and all CSD officers were governed by the Prisons Ordinance and the Prison Rules, which prohibited CSD Officers from conveying any unauthorised articles to prisoners and communicating with prisoners or their relatives without proper authority.
The court heard that between May and August 2022, Ng Tin-man and Ng Lok-ning offered three bribes totalling $10,100 to an Assistant Officer II of the CSD posted to LCKRC for introducing unauthorised articles into LCKRC for Ng Tin-man.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the CSD. ICAC investigation revealed that Ng Lok-ning and the Assistant Officer II had communicated and met with each other without proper authority on several occasions. Ng Lok-ning had also passed to the Assistant Officer II various items, including two pairs of spectacles, cigarettes of a brand not specified by the CSD, lighters, notebooks and stationery.
Ng Tin-man and Ng Lok-ning admitted having offered bribes of over $10,000 as a reward for the Assistant Officer II to bring those articles into LCKRC for passing to Ng Tin-man. Investigation revealed that all those items were unauthorised articles that were neither approved hand-in articles from visitors nor canteen items available for prisoners to purchase.
Co-defendant Kam Wing-kan, 35, Assistant Officer II of the CSD, was charged with three counts of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the POBO. No plea was entered today and he was granted bail until September 13 for mention.
The CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Edward Wong.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that in collaboration with government departments, the ICAC reminds civil servants through education and publicity to maintain a high standard of integrity and abide by the law, so as to maintain public confidence in the civil service.