Man caught in ICAC undercover operation gets 21 months for forged cheque scam
2001-1-17
A man, who had sold a forged US$1 million cashier's cheque to an ICAC undercover officer for HK$100,000, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment by Judge Alan Wright at the District Court today (Wednesday).
Ng Ka-lee, 44, unemployed, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a cashier's cheque in the sum of US$1 million, purportedly issued by the Bank of America on March 18, 1999.
The case was uncovered in late 1998 during an ICAC investigation into alleged corruption involving bank employees. The corruption allegation was later found to be unsubstantiated.
The defendant indicated to an ICAC undercover officer that he was able to provide letters of credit to facilitate the officer's trade in precious stones.
The defendant also proposed to supply the undercover officer with a forged cashier's cheque at the face value of US$1 million, and demanded HK$100,000 as a reward.
On March 18, 1999, the two met in a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. The defendant was arrested after he handed over the forged cashier's cheque to the officer.
The forged cheque, with a face value of US$1 million, was purportedly issued by the Bank of America.
The defendant claimed that he was acting as a middleman and the forged cheque was given to him by a Pang Kwok-chuen earlier that day.
A meeting was set up for the defendant to meet Pang, who was arrested by ICAC officers after he had taken HK$13,000 from the defendant as reward for providing the forged cheque.
Investigations revealed that the cheque was forged by Pang.
The defendant and Pang were subsequently released on ICAC bail, but both failed to answer bail in April 1999.
The defendant was re-arrested at the airport in April last year upon his return from Taipei to Hong Kong.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Wong Kam-hing, assisted by ICAC officer Eric Fan.
Ng Ka-lee, 44, unemployed, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a cashier's cheque in the sum of US$1 million, purportedly issued by the Bank of America on March 18, 1999.
The case was uncovered in late 1998 during an ICAC investigation into alleged corruption involving bank employees. The corruption allegation was later found to be unsubstantiated.
The defendant indicated to an ICAC undercover officer that he was able to provide letters of credit to facilitate the officer's trade in precious stones.
The defendant also proposed to supply the undercover officer with a forged cashier's cheque at the face value of US$1 million, and demanded HK$100,000 as a reward.
On March 18, 1999, the two met in a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui. The defendant was arrested after he handed over the forged cashier's cheque to the officer.
The forged cheque, with a face value of US$1 million, was purportedly issued by the Bank of America.
The defendant claimed that he was acting as a middleman and the forged cheque was given to him by a Pang Kwok-chuen earlier that day.
A meeting was set up for the defendant to meet Pang, who was arrested by ICAC officers after he had taken HK$13,000 from the defendant as reward for providing the forged cheque.
Investigations revealed that the cheque was forged by Pang.
The defendant and Pang were subsequently released on ICAC bail, but both failed to answer bail in April 1999.
The defendant was re-arrested at the airport in April last year upon his return from Taipei to Hong Kong.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Wong Kam-hing, assisted by ICAC officer Eric Fan.