Former HA nurse fined for cheating housing allowances
2001-6-8
A former registered nurse of the Hospital Authority (HA) was today (Friday) sentenced at Tuen Mun Court for cheating 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, earlier pleaded guilty 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.
She was today fined $20,000 by Magistrate Mr David Thomas.
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 Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Nixon Cheung.
Tang Sau-lin, 28, earlier pleaded guilty 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.
She was today fined $20,000 by Magistrate Mr David Thomas.
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 Government Counsel Gary Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Nixon Cheung.