Ex-policeman and two others jailed for bribery over covering up suspected false accounting
2003-3-20
A former policeman and two former security staff of a chained retailer, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) sentenced at District Court for soliciting and accepting bribes for the policeman not to take action against suspected false accounting offe nces allegedly committed by a retailer staff.
Former Police Constable Leung Chun-man, 33, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment. Chiu Lam-fung, 33, former assistant security officer of A.S. Watson & Co. Ltd. (A.S. Watson), and Ho Lok-yeung, 25, former security detective of A.S. Watson, were respe ctively jailed for 30 months and 24 months.
Leung and Chiu earlier pleaded guilty to three joint bribery charges, while Ho was found guilty of two similar charges after trial.
Judge Toh reprimanded Leung for misusing his authority as a police officer at the time of the offences, adding that he had breached the trust the society placed on him.
The court heard that on May 16, 2001, a woman purchased a portable computer at a discounted price of $9,000 from a Fortress shop in Causeway Bay.
At the client's request, a sales supervisor of the shop allegedly agreed to issue an inflated invoice to her.
On August 17, 2001, the woman, claiming that the computer was defective, allegedly presented the inflated invoice to Fortress and demanded a refund. As a result, she was allowed to exchange the computer for other electrical appliances.
The matter was brought to the attention of A.S. Watson's senior management, which ordered an internal investigation into suspected false accounting offences allegedly involving the sales supervisor.
The court heard that between September 3 and 10, 2001, Chiu and Ho, who were acquainted with Leung, a serving Police Constable at the time, had conspired with Leung to solicit $70,000 from the sales supervisor as a reward for Leung to abstain from taking action in respect of the suspected false accounting offences.
On September 4, 2001, Leung and Chiu also accepted $10,000 from the sales supervisor for the same reason.
On September 10, 2001, Leung, Chiu and Ho were arrested by ICAC officers after accepting another $17,000 "marked money" from the sales supervisor inside Leung's car.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Ned Lai, assisted by ICAC officer Hanna Chan.
Former Police Constable Leung Chun-man, 33, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment. Chiu Lam-fung, 33, former assistant security officer of A.S. Watson & Co. Ltd. (A.S. Watson), and Ho Lok-yeung, 25, former security detective of A.S. Watson, were respe ctively jailed for 30 months and 24 months.
Leung and Chiu earlier pleaded guilty to three joint bribery charges, while Ho was found guilty of two similar charges after trial.
Judge Toh reprimanded Leung for misusing his authority as a police officer at the time of the offences, adding that he had breached the trust the society placed on him.
The court heard that on May 16, 2001, a woman purchased a portable computer at a discounted price of $9,000 from a Fortress shop in Causeway Bay.
At the client's request, a sales supervisor of the shop allegedly agreed to issue an inflated invoice to her.
On August 17, 2001, the woman, claiming that the computer was defective, allegedly presented the inflated invoice to Fortress and demanded a refund. As a result, she was allowed to exchange the computer for other electrical appliances.
The matter was brought to the attention of A.S. Watson's senior management, which ordered an internal investigation into suspected false accounting offences allegedly involving the sales supervisor.
The court heard that between September 3 and 10, 2001, Chiu and Ho, who were acquainted with Leung, a serving Police Constable at the time, had conspired with Leung to solicit $70,000 from the sales supervisor as a reward for Leung to abstain from taking action in respect of the suspected false accounting offences.
On September 4, 2001, Leung and Chiu also accepted $10,000 from the sales supervisor for the same reason.
On September 10, 2001, Leung, Chiu and Ho were arrested by ICAC officers after accepting another $17,000 "marked money" from the sales supervisor inside Leung's car.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Ned Lai, assisted by ICAC officer Hanna Chan.