SWD Assistant Social Work Officer charged by ICAC with accepting bribes for referring patients to private elderly home
2023-10-12
An Assistant Social Work Officer of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and an operator of a private residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) were charged by the ICAC yesterday (October 11) with accepting and offering bribes for referring discharged patients of the Princess Margaret Hospital to the aforesaid RCHE.
Yau Chun-wo, 58, Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD; and Li Lai-chun, 50, operator of Happy Year Elderly Care Home (Happy Year), jointly face one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Each of the duo further faces one alternative charge of public servant accepting an advantage or offering an advantage to a public servant, respectively contrary to sections 4(2)(a) and 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 13) for plea.
At the material time, Yau was an Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD posted to the Medical Social Services Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Lai King Building (Lai King Building). His major responsibilities included arranging discharged elderly patients to reside in RCHEs for rehabilitation. In accordance with the relevant guidelines, Yau was only allowed to provide the SWD’s list of registered RCHEs to the patients for making their choices of RCHEs. He should not indicate his preference for any RCHE on the list nor recommend to the patients any RCHE operated by his close personal friends.
Li was a shareholder-cum-director of the company which operated Happy Year, a private RCHE on the SWD’s list of registered RCHEs.
It is alleged that between May 2018 and September 2022, Yau and Li conspired together for Yau to accept bribes for referring patients discharged from Lai King Building to Happy Year.
The alternative charges allege that on September 26, 2022 when the duo were arrested by ICAC officers, Yau accepted a bribe of $18,000 offered by Li for referring patients discharged from Lai King Building to Happy Year.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Yau had arranged a total of 33 discharged patients of Lai King Building to reside at Happy Year over a span of over four years.
The SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that civil servants should never abuse their official capacity to obtain personal gain, and should uphold integrity in performing their duties in order to safeguard public interest. The ICAC also reminds members of the public that bribery is a serious offence, offering bribes to civil servants in exchange for their assistance or favour is strictly prohibited.
Yau Chun-wo, 58, Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD; and Li Lai-chun, 50, operator of Happy Year Elderly Care Home (Happy Year), jointly face one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Each of the duo further faces one alternative charge of public servant accepting an advantage or offering an advantage to a public servant, respectively contrary to sections 4(2)(a) and 4(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 13) for plea.
At the material time, Yau was an Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD posted to the Medical Social Services Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Lai King Building (Lai King Building). His major responsibilities included arranging discharged elderly patients to reside in RCHEs for rehabilitation. In accordance with the relevant guidelines, Yau was only allowed to provide the SWD’s list of registered RCHEs to the patients for making their choices of RCHEs. He should not indicate his preference for any RCHE on the list nor recommend to the patients any RCHE operated by his close personal friends.
Li was a shareholder-cum-director of the company which operated Happy Year, a private RCHE on the SWD’s list of registered RCHEs.
It is alleged that between May 2018 and September 2022, Yau and Li conspired together for Yau to accept bribes for referring patients discharged from Lai King Building to Happy Year.
The alternative charges allege that on September 26, 2022 when the duo were arrested by ICAC officers, Yau accepted a bribe of $18,000 offered by Li for referring patients discharged from Lai King Building to Happy Year.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Yau had arranged a total of 33 discharged patients of Lai King Building to reside at Happy Year over a span of over four years.
The SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that civil servants should never abuse their official capacity to obtain personal gain, and should uphold integrity in performing their duties in order to safeguard public interest. The ICAC also reminds members of the public that bribery is a serious offence, offering bribes to civil servants in exchange for their assistance or favour is strictly prohibited.