Former HA nurse admits cheating $138,000 in housing allowances
2001-5-25
A former registered nurse of the Hospital Authority (HA) today (Friday) admitted having cheated housing allowances totalling $138,000 by falsely claiming that she had lived in the subsidized property, which she in fact leased to other people.
Tang Sau-lin, 28, today pleaded guilty at Tuen Mun Court to one count of using a document containing false statements with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, on July 3, 2000.
Magistrate Mr David Thomas adjourned the case to June 8, 2001 for sentence, pending community service and probation reports. The defendant was granted bail of $5,000 in cash.
The court heard that before resigning from HA in October last year, Tang was attached to the Tuen Mun Hospital.
In January 1997, Tang submitted a formal application under HA's Home Loan Interest Subsidy Scheme (HLISS) for subsidies in mortgage interest payment in relation to a property in Ma Tin Toad, Yuen Long.
Under the scheme, eligible applicants are entitled to subsidies on condition that they personally live in the property to be financed, and are not allowed to let the property without HA's approval.
However, between February 1997 and June last year, the defendant had leased her property at Ma Tin Road to a number of persons, at monthly rental ranging from $5,800 to $7,000.
Upon receiving a complaint in December last year, HA requested the defendant to confirm if she had complied with the live-in requirement, and suspended granting the allowances.
On July 3 last year, the defendant submitted a declaration to HA that throughout the period when she received HA's allowances, she had been living in the property.
When interviewed by managers of HA, the defendant also denied having breached the live-in conditions.
However, after the scam was exposed, the defendant wrote a letter to HA on July 27 last year, admitting that she had leased her property from January 1997 and June 2000.
In January this year, HA fully recovered the subsidies, totalling $138,095, granted to the defendant from her provident fund.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Stanley Chan, assisted by officer Nixon Cheung.
Tang Sau-lin, 28, today pleaded guilty at Tuen Mun Court to one count of using a document containing false statements with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, on July 3, 2000.
Magistrate Mr David Thomas adjourned the case to June 8, 2001 for sentence, pending community service and probation reports. The defendant was granted bail of $5,000 in cash.
The court heard that before resigning from HA in October last year, Tang was attached to the Tuen Mun Hospital.
In January 1997, Tang submitted a formal application under HA's Home Loan Interest Subsidy Scheme (HLISS) for subsidies in mortgage interest payment in relation to a property in Ma Tin Toad, Yuen Long.
Under the scheme, eligible applicants are entitled to subsidies on condition that they personally live in the property to be financed, and are not allowed to let the property without HA's approval.
However, between February 1997 and June last year, the defendant had leased her property at Ma Tin Road to a number of persons, at monthly rental ranging from $5,800 to $7,000.
Upon receiving a complaint in December last year, HA requested the defendant to confirm if she had complied with the live-in requirement, and suspended granting the allowances.
On July 3 last year, the defendant submitted a declaration to HA that throughout the period when she received HA's allowances, she had been living in the property.
When interviewed by managers of HA, the defendant also denied having breached the live-in conditions.
However, after the scam was exposed, the defendant wrote a letter to HA on July 27 last year, admitting that she had leased her property from January 1997 and June 2000.
In January this year, HA fully recovered the subsidies, totalling $138,095, granted to the defendant from her provident fund.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Stanley Chan, assisted by officer Nixon Cheung.