Eight months' jail for posing as prison officer to swindle over inmate transfer
2002-2-22
A man, charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced to eight months' imprisonment at Kwun Tong Court for cheating $5,000 from an inmate's mother by posing as a prison officer to help her son avoid transfer to a detention centre.
Kwok Tsz-kit, 29, currently serving his term in relation to a police case, pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly obtaining $5,000 from Cheng Mei-lin on July 9, 2001.
The charge stated that Kwok had falsely represented that he could make arrangements for Chan Lai-shing, an inmate of Pik Uk Correctional Institution (Pik Uk), to avoid being transferred to Sha Tsui Detention Centre (STDC).
Magistrate Mr Kwok Wai-kin ordered that four months of Kwok's sentence run consecutive to his present 24-month term.
The Police earlier referred the case to the ICAC as it was suspected that officers of the Correctional Services Department might be involved in corruption.
But subsequent ICAC investigations did not reveal any corrupt activities involving government officers.
The court heard that on July 9, 2001, before he was jailed, the defendant telephoned the Pik Uk Correctional Institution.
Falsely claiming that he was an officer at the Aftercare Section of STDC, the defendant asked the duty officer at Pik Uk to provide him with the personal particulars of newly admitted young prisoners and their relatives' contact numbers. He also claimed that he needed the information for liaison duties.
On the same day, the defendant telephoned Cheng Mei-lin, mother of Pik Uk inmate Chan Lai-shing, claiming that he and his associates could help her son avoid being transferred to STDC where a tougher and more disciplined life was expected.
The defendant asked Cheng to pay him $4,000 to $5,000 as a reward.
Cheng subsequently deposited $5,000 into the defendant's bank account.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Lau Wai-kun.
Kwok Tsz-kit, 29, currently serving his term in relation to a police case, pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly obtaining $5,000 from Cheng Mei-lin on July 9, 2001.
The charge stated that Kwok had falsely represented that he could make arrangements for Chan Lai-shing, an inmate of Pik Uk Correctional Institution (Pik Uk), to avoid being transferred to Sha Tsui Detention Centre (STDC).
Magistrate Mr Kwok Wai-kin ordered that four months of Kwok's sentence run consecutive to his present 24-month term.
The Police earlier referred the case to the ICAC as it was suspected that officers of the Correctional Services Department might be involved in corruption.
But subsequent ICAC investigations did not reveal any corrupt activities involving government officers.
The court heard that on July 9, 2001, before he was jailed, the defendant telephoned the Pik Uk Correctional Institution.
Falsely claiming that he was an officer at the Aftercare Section of STDC, the defendant asked the duty officer at Pik Uk to provide him with the personal particulars of newly admitted young prisoners and their relatives' contact numbers. He also claimed that he needed the information for liaison duties.
On the same day, the defendant telephoned Cheng Mei-lin, mother of Pik Uk inmate Chan Lai-shing, claiming that he and his associates could help her son avoid being transferred to STDC where a tougher and more disciplined life was expected.
The defendant asked Cheng to pay him $4,000 to $5,000 as a reward.
Cheng subsequently deposited $5,000 into the defendant's bank account.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Lau Wai-kun.