Ex-Assistant Officer of CSD charged by ICAC sentenced for MIPO over inmate’s access to confidential information
2023-11-28
A then Assistant Officer II of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), charged by the ICAC, was today (November 28) sentenced to 200 hours of community service at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts for committing misconduct in public office (MIPO) for allowing an inmate to operate his staff handheld device for accessing confidential information to locate another inmate to obtain a cigarette.
Choi Ping-sun, 33, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of MIPO, contrary to the Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Minnie Wat Lai-man remarked that breaching the prison rules would adversely affect the order of the prison and may lead to dire consequences. However, a community service order was imposed on the defendant having considered his guilty plea, remorse and other mitigating factors.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the ICAC reminds law enforcement officers to maintain a high standard of integrity and abide by the law at all times through education and publicity. Law enforcement officers should never partake in any corrupt and illegal activities so as to safeguard the effective operation of the criminal justice system.
At the material time, the defendant was an Assistant Officer II of the CSD posted to Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution (TGCI), a detention centre for male adult detainees. The conduct of CSD officers and inmates was governed by the Prisons Ordinance and the Prison Rules, which prohibited CSD officers from conveying any unauthorised articles to inmates and communicating with inmates with an improper purpose.
The court heard that when the defendant was on duty, he was issued a staff handheld device for accessing with his personal password the CSD’s Integrated Custodial and Rehabilitation Management System which contained confidential information, including the personal particulars, profile pictures, case details and cell locations of inmates. Leakage of such information would pose security risks to TGCI.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the CSD. Enquiries revealed that the defendant allowed an inmate in solitary confinement to operate his staff handheld device and to access confidential information stored in it to locate another inmate when he was on duty at TGCI at night on May 1, 2022.
In addition, the defendant located the inmate in another cell to obtain from him a cigarette, and brought it back to the first inmate upon the latter’s request.
The defendant admitted that he had wilfully misconducted himself that night in the course of or in relation to his public office without reasonable excuse or justification.
The CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Winnie Chan.
Choi Ping-sun, 33, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of MIPO, contrary to the Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Miss Minnie Wat Lai-man remarked that breaching the prison rules would adversely affect the order of the prison and may lead to dire consequences. However, a community service order was imposed on the defendant having considered his guilty plea, remorse and other mitigating factors.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the ICAC reminds law enforcement officers to maintain a high standard of integrity and abide by the law at all times through education and publicity. Law enforcement officers should never partake in any corrupt and illegal activities so as to safeguard the effective operation of the criminal justice system.
At the material time, the defendant was an Assistant Officer II of the CSD posted to Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution (TGCI), a detention centre for male adult detainees. The conduct of CSD officers and inmates was governed by the Prisons Ordinance and the Prison Rules, which prohibited CSD officers from conveying any unauthorised articles to inmates and communicating with inmates with an improper purpose.
The court heard that when the defendant was on duty, he was issued a staff handheld device for accessing with his personal password the CSD’s Integrated Custodial and Rehabilitation Management System which contained confidential information, including the personal particulars, profile pictures, case details and cell locations of inmates. Leakage of such information would pose security risks to TGCI.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the CSD. Enquiries revealed that the defendant allowed an inmate in solitary confinement to operate his staff handheld device and to access confidential information stored in it to locate another inmate when he was on duty at TGCI at night on May 1, 2022.
In addition, the defendant located the inmate in another cell to obtain from him a cigarette, and brought it back to the first inmate upon the latter’s request.
The defendant admitted that he had wilfully misconducted himself that night in the course of or in relation to his public office without reasonable excuse or justification.
The CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Winnie Chan.