Doctor and three others admit medical insurance fraud
2000-11-17
A medical practitioner admitted at Eastern Court today (Friday) that he had conspired with a number of persons to swindle over $32,700 in insurance claims from various insurance companies by issuing false medical certificates.
Yue Wing-hang, 36, charged by the ICAC in relation to the scam in two separate cases, pleaded guilty to eight charges of conspiracy to defraud before Magistrate Mr Ian Candy.
Yue was accused of conspiring with a number of persons to falsely represent to various insurance companies that those persons had received treatment from him for bodily injuries, and had incurred medical expenses.
The court heard that as a result of the false certificates issued by Yue, American International Assurance Company (Bermuda) Limited, CRC Protective Life Insurance Co Ltd., Canadian Eastern Life Assurance Limited, and Eagle Star Life Assurance Co. Ltd. we re deceived into paying over $32,700 in medical benefits.
Three other defendants, Chan Siu-lai, 38, cashier; Fong Yuk-kwai, 40, cleaning worker; and Yuen Wai-har, 29, waitress, also pleaded guilty today to similar offences in two separate cases.
The magistrate adjourned sentencing of Yue and the other three to Monday (November 20). Yue was granted bail of $25,000 in cash, while the remaining defendants were each on $5,000 cash bail.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption report alleging that a former insurance agent had accepted bribes to facilitate fraudulent insurance claims.
The defendants were among 52 people arrested during an operation in November last year. Sixteen of the arrestees, including the above defendants, were prosecuted.
Ten other defendants charged in connection with the scam earlier pleaded guilty, and were respectively sentenced to suspended jail term or ordered to perform community service.
Meanwhile, a freelance insurance agent, Ng Chuck-ping, and bonesetter Mak Sin-chiu, charged with similar offences, pleaded not guilty. They were also ordered to appear in court on Monday for pre-trial review.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Diana Pang.
Yue Wing-hang, 36, charged by the ICAC in relation to the scam in two separate cases, pleaded guilty to eight charges of conspiracy to defraud before Magistrate Mr Ian Candy.
Yue was accused of conspiring with a number of persons to falsely represent to various insurance companies that those persons had received treatment from him for bodily injuries, and had incurred medical expenses.
The court heard that as a result of the false certificates issued by Yue, American International Assurance Company (Bermuda) Limited, CRC Protective Life Insurance Co Ltd., Canadian Eastern Life Assurance Limited, and Eagle Star Life Assurance Co. Ltd. we re deceived into paying over $32,700 in medical benefits.
Three other defendants, Chan Siu-lai, 38, cashier; Fong Yuk-kwai, 40, cleaning worker; and Yuen Wai-har, 29, waitress, also pleaded guilty today to similar offences in two separate cases.
The magistrate adjourned sentencing of Yue and the other three to Monday (November 20). Yue was granted bail of $25,000 in cash, while the remaining defendants were each on $5,000 cash bail.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption report alleging that a former insurance agent had accepted bribes to facilitate fraudulent insurance claims.
The defendants were among 52 people arrested during an operation in November last year. Sixteen of the arrestees, including the above defendants, were prosecuted.
Ten other defendants charged in connection with the scam earlier pleaded guilty, and were respectively sentenced to suspended jail term or ordered to perform community service.
Meanwhile, a freelance insurance agent, Ng Chuck-ping, and bonesetter Mak Sin-chiu, charged with similar offences, pleaded not guilty. They were also ordered to appear in court on Monday for pre-trial review.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Diana Pang.