A woman, charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced at Kowloon City Magistracy for offering a $500 "lai see" to a driving examiner of the Transport Department during a driving test.

Yip Yau-chun, 33, construction worker, was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.

The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to a government servant whilst having dealings with the government, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO). She had since been remanded in jail cust ody.

The court heard that on May 13, 2002, Yip reported to the driving test centre of the Transport Department in Homantin, Kowloon, for attending a driving test for light goods vehicle.

Prior to the test, Yip was asked to read a notice, warning that any candidate who offered an advantage to a public servant in connection with driving tests conducted by the centre would commit an offence under the PBO, and would be liable to prosecution.

During the driving test presided by a Driving Examiner II of the Transport Department, Yip failed the parking test and made two serious mistakes in her road test.

The court heard that Yip then stopped the light goods vehicle at a traffic light, and gave the driving examiner a "lai see" packet.

The defendant told the examiner: "It is money, it is just a token of (my) regard, a token of appreciation."

The examiner refused the bribe, and told Yip to drive back to the driving test centre.

Upon arrival at the centre, the examiner reported the matter to his supervisor, who then referred the case to the ICAC.

ICAC officers arrested the defendant, and a "lai see" packet containing a $500 banknote was seized from her.

When interviewed under caution, Yip admitted that she had offered the $500 "lai see" to the driving examiner during her driving test.

The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Marco Li, assisted by ICAC officer Kenny Tse.