Housing Officer solicited loans from public housing tenants
2001-6-14
A Housing Officer of the Housing Department who solicited unauthorised loans from tenants who had applied for reallocation of public housing units was today (Thursday) sentenced at Shatin Court.
The government officer earlier admitted that she had made the solicitation because she had financial difficulties after her husband was detained by public security officers on the Mainland.
Choi Yin-kwan, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting loans without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive from Ma Yin-mei and Cheng Miu-ling between November last year and January this year.
Magistrate Anthony Yuen today ordered her to perform 80 hours of community service as the penalty for the offences.
The defendant joined the Housing Department as a Housing Officer in February 1990. When the offences took place, she was posted to Kwong Yuen Estate (KYE), Shatin, responsible for estate management and the handling of applications for reallocation of hou sing units.
The court heard that in October 2000, the defendant handled an application from Ma in regard to reallocation of a housing unit on behalf of Ma's father-in-law who was living at KYE.
One month later, the defendant informed Ma that her application was approved.
The defendant also initiated a meeting to return documents to Ma. At the meeting, she told Ma that her husband was detained by public security officers on the Mainland and solicited a loan of several thousand dollars.
In February 2001, the defendant approached another tenant, Cheng Miu-ling, to solicit a loan of $3,000.
The defendant came to know Cheng as she had previously handled Cheng's application for reallocation of a housing unit on behalf of her mother.
Both applicants had refused to offer loans as requested by the defendant.
The defendant, when interviewed by ICAC officers under caution, made full admissions to the offences.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Teresa Cheung.
The government officer earlier admitted that she had made the solicitation because she had financial difficulties after her husband was detained by public security officers on the Mainland.
Choi Yin-kwan, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting loans without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive from Ma Yin-mei and Cheng Miu-ling between November last year and January this year.
Magistrate Anthony Yuen today ordered her to perform 80 hours of community service as the penalty for the offences.
The defendant joined the Housing Department as a Housing Officer in February 1990. When the offences took place, she was posted to Kwong Yuen Estate (KYE), Shatin, responsible for estate management and the handling of applications for reallocation of hou sing units.
The court heard that in October 2000, the defendant handled an application from Ma in regard to reallocation of a housing unit on behalf of Ma's father-in-law who was living at KYE.
One month later, the defendant informed Ma that her application was approved.
The defendant also initiated a meeting to return documents to Ma. At the meeting, she told Ma that her husband was detained by public security officers on the Mainland and solicited a loan of several thousand dollars.
In February 2001, the defendant approached another tenant, Cheng Miu-ling, to solicit a loan of $3,000.
The defendant came to know Cheng as she had previously handled Cheng's application for reallocation of a housing unit on behalf of her mother.
Both applicants had refused to offer loans as requested by the defendant.
The defendant, when interviewed by ICAC officers under caution, made full admissions to the offences.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Teresa Cheung.