12 months' jail for CSD officer bringing mobile phone into prison for bribes
2000-10-28
An Assistant Officer II of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment at San Po Kong Court today (Saturday) for soliciting bribes from a prisoner for bringing a mobile phone into Pik Uk Prison.
The court was told that Lai Wai-shun, 24, after being charged by the ICAC for corruption, demanded $300,000 from the prisoner as "compensation".
Lai earlier pleaded guilty to three charges in violation of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one count of introducing unauthorized articles into Pik Uk Prison.
Magistrate Mr Kwok Wai-kin also fined the defendant $1,000, and ordered the forfeiture of the unauthorized articles Lai introduced into the prison.
Lai was convicted on one count of conspiring with Ip Man-lung to solicit $5,000 from Wong Chi-lai, Jeff, for Lai to provide Wong with a mobile phone for the latter to use in Pik Uk Prison on March 21 this year.
A second charge accused Lai of introducing unauthorized articles into Pik Uk Prison, namely, a mobile phone, a pager, a mini radio with a pair of earplugs and an electronic timer clock on the same day.
Lai also pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting $300,000 and one count of accepting $13,000 from Wong respectively on September 6 and September 7 this year.
Both Ip and Wong were Pik Uk prisoners when the offences took place.
The prosecution was the result of a joint operation by the ICAC and CSD.
The court heard that early this year, Lai told Ip Man-lung that he needed money to settle his debts and could introduce a mobile phone into the prison for use by inmates at a charge of $5,000 per work shift. The defendant promised to give Ip $2,000 as "c ommission".
Ip learnt that inmate Wong Chi-lai was having family problems, and offered to provide mobile phone service to him as suggested by the defendant. Wong declined the offer and reported the matter to the Security Officer.
Despite Wong's disagreement, the defendant brought his mobile phone into the prison and gave it to Wong on March 21, pressing for money rewards.
Wong kept the phone and informed the Security Officer. The matter was referred to the ICAC for investigation.
In the evening of March 21, the defendant was intercepted and searched. Unauthorised articles including a pager, a radio with a pair of earplugs, an electronic timer clock and a notebook containing some numbers were found in his possession.
After being charged by the ICAC on September 6, Lai ran into Wong in the afternoon at Tak Hing Street, Jordan. Wong had already been released from prison by then.
During the encounter, Lai told Wong about the ICAC prosecution against him, and demanded $300,000 as "family settlement fee". Lai said he urgently needed money for legal fees and repaying debts.
On the following day, Lai accepted $13,000 from Wong at a meeting monitored by the ICAC. He was immediately caught by the ICAC after the transaction.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Yeung Kwan.
The court was told that Lai Wai-shun, 24, after being charged by the ICAC for corruption, demanded $300,000 from the prisoner as "compensation".
Lai earlier pleaded guilty to three charges in violation of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one count of introducing unauthorized articles into Pik Uk Prison.
Magistrate Mr Kwok Wai-kin also fined the defendant $1,000, and ordered the forfeiture of the unauthorized articles Lai introduced into the prison.
Lai was convicted on one count of conspiring with Ip Man-lung to solicit $5,000 from Wong Chi-lai, Jeff, for Lai to provide Wong with a mobile phone for the latter to use in Pik Uk Prison on March 21 this year.
A second charge accused Lai of introducing unauthorized articles into Pik Uk Prison, namely, a mobile phone, a pager, a mini radio with a pair of earplugs and an electronic timer clock on the same day.
Lai also pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting $300,000 and one count of accepting $13,000 from Wong respectively on September 6 and September 7 this year.
Both Ip and Wong were Pik Uk prisoners when the offences took place.
The prosecution was the result of a joint operation by the ICAC and CSD.
The court heard that early this year, Lai told Ip Man-lung that he needed money to settle his debts and could introduce a mobile phone into the prison for use by inmates at a charge of $5,000 per work shift. The defendant promised to give Ip $2,000 as "c ommission".
Ip learnt that inmate Wong Chi-lai was having family problems, and offered to provide mobile phone service to him as suggested by the defendant. Wong declined the offer and reported the matter to the Security Officer.
Despite Wong's disagreement, the defendant brought his mobile phone into the prison and gave it to Wong on March 21, pressing for money rewards.
Wong kept the phone and informed the Security Officer. The matter was referred to the ICAC for investigation.
In the evening of March 21, the defendant was intercepted and searched. Unauthorised articles including a pager, a radio with a pair of earplugs, an electronic timer clock and a notebook containing some numbers were found in his possession.
After being charged by the ICAC on September 6, Lai ran into Wong in the afternoon at Tak Hing Street, Jordan. Wong had already been released from prison by then.
During the encounter, Lai told Wong about the ICAC prosecution against him, and demanded $300,000 as "family settlement fee". Lai said he urgently needed money for legal fees and repaying debts.
On the following day, Lai accepted $13,000 from Wong at a meeting monitored by the ICAC. He was immediately caught by the ICAC after the transaction.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Yeung Kwan.