Then Immigration Officer charged by ICAC over outside work and insurance commission fraud
2023-12-3
An insurance agent-turned-then Immigration Officer was charged by the ICAC earlier (November 30) with an offence under the anti-bribery law for allegedly using documents containing false information to mislead the Immigration Department (ImmD) in an internal investigation that he had not engaged in any outside work and conspiring with three former colleagues in the insurance industry to defraud an insurer of commissions and allowances totalling over $130,000 by making false representation about the handling agent of insurance policies.
Yau Sing-ho, 29, then Immigration Officer and then senior relationship manager of MetLife Limited (MetLife, subsequently acquired by FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (FWD)); faces one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Yau and three then licensed insurance agents of FWD, namely Ricky Tang Tsz-lok, Uno Tang Sin-yiu, and Leung Chi-kwong, aged between 32 and 37, further face two other counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.
The four defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 4) for plea.
Yau was an Immigration Officer between September 2018 and October 2020. Prior to his employment with the ImmD, he was a senior relationship manager of MetLife and a licensed insurance agent. Yau, Uno Tang and Leung had been downline insurance agents of Ricky Tang, who was an associate division director.
In September 2020, the ImmD conducted an internal investigation on Yau in respect of his unauthorised outside work as an insurance agent. Yau allegedly used a memorandum and four letters with intent to mislead the ImmD. The relevant documents contained false statements claiming that Yau had sent his resignation to MetLife in mid-September 2018, he had not engaged in any outside work and received any commission in the capacity of an insurance agent since joined the ImmD, and that he was not aware he was a licensed insurance agent before the ImmD internal investigation commenced.
It is also alleged between August 2018 and March 2020, Yau, Ricky Tang and Uno Tang conspired together to defraud MetLife by falsely representing that Yau was one of the handling agents for five insurance policy applications, causing and inducing MetLife to underwrite and issue the insurance policies and to pay commission or other payments to the trio.
During the same period, the four defendants allegedly used similar fraudulent means to defraud MetLife to underwrite and issue another insurance policy and to pay commission or other payments to the four defendants.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the ImmD. Enquiries revealed that during Yau’s employment with the ImmD, he had never applied for engaging in any outside work as a licensed insurance agent in accordance with the Civil Service Regulation (CSR).
ICAC enquiries also revealed that during the above-mentioned period, Yau received commission and allowances totalling over $110,000 from MetLife in relation to a number of insurance policies. Meanwhile, Ricky Tang, Uno Tang and Leung received a total of over $20,000 in commission in relation to six of the insurance policies.
The ImmD and FWD have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that civil servants should uphold honesty and integrity, and should never partake in any corrupt and illegal activities to obtain personal gain. Civil servants should also strictly adhere to the CSR on conduct and discipline, including the requirement of applying for permission before taking up any outside work.
Yau Sing-ho, 29, then Immigration Officer and then senior relationship manager of MetLife Limited (MetLife, subsequently acquired by FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (FWD)); faces one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Yau and three then licensed insurance agents of FWD, namely Ricky Tang Tsz-lok, Uno Tang Sin-yiu, and Leung Chi-kwong, aged between 32 and 37, further face two other counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.
The four defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 4) for plea.
Yau was an Immigration Officer between September 2018 and October 2020. Prior to his employment with the ImmD, he was a senior relationship manager of MetLife and a licensed insurance agent. Yau, Uno Tang and Leung had been downline insurance agents of Ricky Tang, who was an associate division director.
In September 2020, the ImmD conducted an internal investigation on Yau in respect of his unauthorised outside work as an insurance agent. Yau allegedly used a memorandum and four letters with intent to mislead the ImmD. The relevant documents contained false statements claiming that Yau had sent his resignation to MetLife in mid-September 2018, he had not engaged in any outside work and received any commission in the capacity of an insurance agent since joined the ImmD, and that he was not aware he was a licensed insurance agent before the ImmD internal investigation commenced.
It is also alleged between August 2018 and March 2020, Yau, Ricky Tang and Uno Tang conspired together to defraud MetLife by falsely representing that Yau was one of the handling agents for five insurance policy applications, causing and inducing MetLife to underwrite and issue the insurance policies and to pay commission or other payments to the trio.
During the same period, the four defendants allegedly used similar fraudulent means to defraud MetLife to underwrite and issue another insurance policy and to pay commission or other payments to the four defendants.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the ImmD. Enquiries revealed that during Yau’s employment with the ImmD, he had never applied for engaging in any outside work as a licensed insurance agent in accordance with the Civil Service Regulation (CSR).
ICAC enquiries also revealed that during the above-mentioned period, Yau received commission and allowances totalling over $110,000 from MetLife in relation to a number of insurance policies. Meanwhile, Ricky Tang, Uno Tang and Leung received a total of over $20,000 in commission in relation to six of the insurance policies.
The ImmD and FWD have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson notes that civil servants should uphold honesty and integrity, and should never partake in any corrupt and illegal activities to obtain personal gain. Civil servants should also strictly adhere to the CSR on conduct and discipline, including the requirement of applying for permission before taking up any outside work.