Four months' jail for doctor issuing bogus sick leave certificates
2003-5-28
A doctor was today (Wednesday) sentenced to four months' imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for issuing bogus sick leave certificates to a bus driver who had been absent from work for family gatherings in the Mainland.
Wong Shing-chung, 67, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to furnish false information.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Abu Bakar bin Wahab said had the defendant shown any remorse, a non-custodial sentence would have been considered.
Since the defendant had shown no signs of remorse throughout the trial, an immediate jail term was warranted, the magistrate said.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that a bus driver might have bribed Wong for obtaining sick leave certificates. ICAC inquiries revealed the conspiracy offence.
The court heard that on 15 occasions between January and August 2002, Lam Kai-hung, a driver then employed by Citybus Limited (Citybus), was absent from duty and went to visit his wife in the Mainland.
After returning from the Mainland, Lam went to see Wong at his clinic, and requested Wong to issue backdated sick leave certificates to cover the period of his absence. Wong consented to Lam’s request without diagnosing.
The court heard that Wong charged Lam $150 for "certifying" one day's sick leave, and $180 for two days.
Lam submitted the bogus sick leave certificates to Citybus, and obtained a total of 29 days' certified sick leave.
The court heard that if the 29 days' sick leave had not been supported by medical certificates, a total of about $16,000 would have been deducted from Lam's salary and bonuses in accordance with Citybus' regulations.
Lam had earlier pleaded guilty to a similar offence, and will be sentenced this Friday (May 30).
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Jonathan Man, assisted by ICAC officers Patty Wu and Eliot Cheung.
Wong Shing-chung, 67, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to furnish false information.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Abu Bakar bin Wahab said had the defendant shown any remorse, a non-custodial sentence would have been considered.
Since the defendant had shown no signs of remorse throughout the trial, an immediate jail term was warranted, the magistrate said.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that a bus driver might have bribed Wong for obtaining sick leave certificates. ICAC inquiries revealed the conspiracy offence.
The court heard that on 15 occasions between January and August 2002, Lam Kai-hung, a driver then employed by Citybus Limited (Citybus), was absent from duty and went to visit his wife in the Mainland.
After returning from the Mainland, Lam went to see Wong at his clinic, and requested Wong to issue backdated sick leave certificates to cover the period of his absence. Wong consented to Lam’s request without diagnosing.
The court heard that Wong charged Lam $150 for "certifying" one day's sick leave, and $180 for two days.
Lam submitted the bogus sick leave certificates to Citybus, and obtained a total of 29 days' certified sick leave.
The court heard that if the 29 days' sick leave had not been supported by medical certificates, a total of about $16,000 would have been deducted from Lam's salary and bonuses in accordance with Citybus' regulations.
Lam had earlier pleaded guilty to a similar offence, and will be sentenced this Friday (May 30).
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Jonathan Man, assisted by ICAC officers Patty Wu and Eliot Cheung.