A former chairman of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta (HKS), charged by the ICAC, appeared at North Kowloon Court today (Thursday) for allegedly misappropriating $220,000 by inflating the amount of allowances paid to various musicians.

Henry Yu Hung-yung, 59, faced 16 false accounting and two theft offences, which allegedly took place between January 1996 and February 1998 when he was chairman of HKS.

No plea was taken today. Magistrate Mr Garry Tallentire adjourned the case to October 11, 2002, pending transfer to District Court. The defendant was granted bail of $113,000 in cash and was ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prose cution witnesses.

The HKS receives grants from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC).

The case was uncovered from a corruption complaint, alleging that a former chairman of HKS might have been involved in corruption over the management of the orchestra. The corruption allegation was found to be unsubstantiated.

The management of HKADC provided full assistance to ICAC throughout its investigation.

Sixteen of the charges alleged Yu of falsifying official receipts and statements of payment of HKS for various sums, totalling $573,540.

He was said to have made false entries in such documents, purporting to show that a number of musicians had received the monies as daily allowance, conductor fee or in respect of various concerts.

The remaining two charges alleged Yu of stealing two debts owed by Hua Chiao Commercial Bank Ltd. to HKS.

Yu was alleged to have inflated the amounts paid to the musicians and pocketed the difference, totalling $220,000.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Wong Lai-shan.