Security guard jailed for making malicious corruption complaint out of revenge
2001-11-30
A security guard was today (Friday) jailed for three months at Tuen Mun Court for deliberately fabricating allegations that two of his supervisors had solicited and accepted bribes from him for approving his leave application.
The court heard that Cheung Sing-hoi, 43, employed by Fidelity Security Company Limited, admitted that he made the false allegations out of vengeance because his supervisors were critical of his work.
Cheung today pleaded guilty before Magistrate Stephen Smout to one count of attempting to mislead an ICAC officer on November 7, 2000, contrary to Section 13B(b) of the Independent Commission Against Commission Ordinance and the Crimes Ordinance.
The magistrate remarked that the offence committed by the defendant had brought disrepute on two innocent people.
The court heard that Cheung had been deployed to work at Tin King and Leung King Estates, Tuen Mun, as a security guard, under the supervision of Chiu Ching-shun and Tsui Siu-ling.
On October 30, 2000, the defendant made a report to ICAC alleging Chiu of soliciting $400 for approving his leave application.
He further alleged that Tsui later phoned him, asking him to pay $200 instead for employing a substitute security guard.
He also claimed that he had subsequently paid Tsui the money as requested.
About a week later, Cheung gave a witness statement to the ICAC making the same allegations.
Following investigations by the ICAC, it was found out that Cheung’s allegations were all fabricated.
When interviewed under caution, Cheung admitted having made the false allegations against his supervisors because he wanted to take revenge on them.
An ICAC spokesman said this case illustrated that the making of malicious corruption complaints against innocent people was a serious offence.
However, the spokesman assured the public that complainants acting in good faith would not be subject to prosecution for making false reports even if their complaints turned out to be unsubstantiated.
“Members of the public who genuinely suspect that there were corrupt activities are always welcome to come forward.
“The ICAC will conduct thorough investigations into each pursuable corruption complaint,” the spokesman added.
The court heard that Cheung Sing-hoi, 43, employed by Fidelity Security Company Limited, admitted that he made the false allegations out of vengeance because his supervisors were critical of his work.
Cheung today pleaded guilty before Magistrate Stephen Smout to one count of attempting to mislead an ICAC officer on November 7, 2000, contrary to Section 13B(b) of the Independent Commission Against Commission Ordinance and the Crimes Ordinance.
The magistrate remarked that the offence committed by the defendant had brought disrepute on two innocent people.
The court heard that Cheung had been deployed to work at Tin King and Leung King Estates, Tuen Mun, as a security guard, under the supervision of Chiu Ching-shun and Tsui Siu-ling.
On October 30, 2000, the defendant made a report to ICAC alleging Chiu of soliciting $400 for approving his leave application.
He further alleged that Tsui later phoned him, asking him to pay $200 instead for employing a substitute security guard.
He also claimed that he had subsequently paid Tsui the money as requested.
About a week later, Cheung gave a witness statement to the ICAC making the same allegations.
Following investigations by the ICAC, it was found out that Cheung’s allegations were all fabricated.
When interviewed under caution, Cheung admitted having made the false allegations against his supervisors because he wanted to take revenge on them.
An ICAC spokesman said this case illustrated that the making of malicious corruption complaints against innocent people was a serious offence.
However, the spokesman assured the public that complainants acting in good faith would not be subject to prosecution for making false reports even if their complaints turned out to be unsubstantiated.
“Members of the public who genuinely suspect that there were corrupt activities are always welcome to come forward.
“The ICAC will conduct thorough investigations into each pursuable corruption complaint,” the spokesman added.