Four crematorium staff guilty of coffin thefts
2001-3-12
Three serving and one former Artisans of the then Urban Services Department (USD), charged by the ICAC, were convicted at District Court today (Monday) of stealing burial property from coffins at Cape Collinson Crematorium before cremation took place.
Artisans Siu Yat-heung, 50, Wong Chi-sum, 37 and Lee Kim-wah, 46, and former Artisan Lam Chi-keung, 65, were found guilty on a total of 13 offences of theft.
Judge Derek Pang adjourned the case to April 3, 2001 for sentencing. Lam was granted bail of $3,000 in cash, while the remaining defendants were each allowed cash bail of $10,000. All defendants were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong.
The court heard that between November 1991 and October 1999, the defendants had stolen various valuables and clothing items from coffins at the Crematorium.
Such stolen property included four watches, a ring, three pairs of shoes, two pairs of spectacles, a metal clasp, a coffin handle, a Chinese musical instrument, a tracksuit, a coat and a waist pack.
The case originated from a corruption complaint referred by the management of the then USD in 1999, which suspected that corruption might be involved in alleged coffin thefts.
Another former USD Artisan Lam Pak-shing charged in connection with the investigation was earlier jailed for 30 months for bribing his supervisor and coffin theft.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Johnny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Judy Cheung.
Artisans Siu Yat-heung, 50, Wong Chi-sum, 37 and Lee Kim-wah, 46, and former Artisan Lam Chi-keung, 65, were found guilty on a total of 13 offences of theft.
Judge Derek Pang adjourned the case to April 3, 2001 for sentencing. Lam was granted bail of $3,000 in cash, while the remaining defendants were each allowed cash bail of $10,000. All defendants were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong.
The court heard that between November 1991 and October 1999, the defendants had stolen various valuables and clothing items from coffins at the Crematorium.
Such stolen property included four watches, a ring, three pairs of shoes, two pairs of spectacles, a metal clasp, a coffin handle, a Chinese musical instrument, a tracksuit, a coat and a waist pack.
The case originated from a corruption complaint referred by the management of the then USD in 1999, which suspected that corruption might be involved in alleged coffin thefts.
Another former USD Artisan Lam Pak-shing charged in connection with the investigation was earlier jailed for 30 months for bribing his supervisor and coffin theft.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Johnny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Judy Cheung.