Ex-kindergarten teacher charged by ICAC sentenced for bribing principal over false employment proof
2023-11-14
A former kindergarten teacher, charged by the ICAC, was today (November 14) handed a 120-hour community service order at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for bribing the principal of the kindergarten for issuing a false employment proof to support her overseas tourist visa application.
Prabhjot-Kaur, 27, former teacher of Sunshine House International Pre-school (Tung Chung) (Sunshine House), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr. Jason Wan Siu-ming noted that the defendant had resorted to bribery for her own convenience out of foolishness. The court should have meted out an immediate custodial sentence as corruption was a serious offence. A non-custodial sentence was imposed on the defendant, having considered the exceptional circumstances involved, including her guilty plea and remorse, low risk of reoffending, and the fact that she had no financial gain, etc.
The defendant was previously employed as a teacher by Sunshine House, a kindergarten in Tung Chung, but left in early June 2022.
The court heard that between February 22 and 24, 2023, the defendant sent various phone text messages to the principal of Sunshine House and offered an unspecified sum of bribe to the latter for issuing a false employment letter to her.
The principal rejected the offer and the kindergarten subsequently filed a corruption complaint with the ICAC. Enquiries by the ICAC revealed that the defendant’s application for a tourist visa was rejected by an overseas authority as she was unemployed at the material time. Hence, she contacted the principal and tried to obtain an employment proof through bribery.
The ICAC praised the kindergarten for reporting corruption and rendering full assistance during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Ken Chek.
Prabhjot-Kaur, 27, former teacher of Sunshine House International Pre-school (Tung Chung) (Sunshine House), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr. Jason Wan Siu-ming noted that the defendant had resorted to bribery for her own convenience out of foolishness. The court should have meted out an immediate custodial sentence as corruption was a serious offence. A non-custodial sentence was imposed on the defendant, having considered the exceptional circumstances involved, including her guilty plea and remorse, low risk of reoffending, and the fact that she had no financial gain, etc.
The defendant was previously employed as a teacher by Sunshine House, a kindergarten in Tung Chung, but left in early June 2022.
The court heard that between February 22 and 24, 2023, the defendant sent various phone text messages to the principal of Sunshine House and offered an unspecified sum of bribe to the latter for issuing a false employment letter to her.
The principal rejected the offer and the kindergarten subsequently filed a corruption complaint with the ICAC. Enquiries by the ICAC revealed that the defendant’s application for a tourist visa was rejected by an overseas authority as she was unemployed at the material time. Hence, she contacted the principal and tried to obtain an employment proof through bribery.
The ICAC praised the kindergarten for reporting corruption and rendering full assistance during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Ken Chek.