Ex-contract assistant of TD charged by ICAC sentenced for accessing to computer with dishonest intent over license renewals
2023-11-20
A then contract customer service assistant of the Transport Department (TD), charged by the ICAC, was today (November 20) sentenced to a 120-hour community service order at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts for accessing a computer system of the TD dishonestly to process 15 applications for license renewal and other services for a friend during the pandemic. The offence was revealed in the course of a corruption investigation.
Ng Yuen-ting, 29, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining access to computer with dishonest intent, contrary to section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong said the defendant’s wrongdoings had interrupted the public services. Taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and positive probation order report, a non-custodial sentence was imposed on her.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a staff member of an employment agency assigned to work at TD’s Sha Tin Licensing Office, which provided licensing counter services, including applications for license renewal, transfer of vehicle ownership and printing duplicate copy of vehicle license. She was required to access the computer system maintained by the TD for processing those applications.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sha Tin Licensing Office only provided counter services for applicants who had made prior online appointments with the TD between February and April 2022. Contract customer service assistants were not authorised to access TD’s computer system for processing applications by applicants who had not made any online appointments.
The court heard that on March 15, 2022, the defendant obtained access to TD’s computer system to process 15 applications involving 10 vehicles for license renewal and other services for a friend.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the TD. Enquiries revealed that no prior online appointment had been made for the 15 applications.
The TD and the employment agency had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Nathan Cheung.
Ng Yuen-ting, 29, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining access to computer with dishonest intent, contrary to section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong said the defendant’s wrongdoings had interrupted the public services. Taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and positive probation order report, a non-custodial sentence was imposed on her.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a staff member of an employment agency assigned to work at TD’s Sha Tin Licensing Office, which provided licensing counter services, including applications for license renewal, transfer of vehicle ownership and printing duplicate copy of vehicle license. She was required to access the computer system maintained by the TD for processing those applications.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sha Tin Licensing Office only provided counter services for applicants who had made prior online appointments with the TD between February and April 2022. Contract customer service assistants were not authorised to access TD’s computer system for processing applications by applicants who had not made any online appointments.
The court heard that on March 15, 2022, the defendant obtained access to TD’s computer system to process 15 applications involving 10 vehicles for license renewal and other services for a friend.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the TD. Enquiries revealed that no prior online appointment had been made for the 15 applications.
The TD and the employment agency had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Nathan Cheung.