Former Salvation Army staff convicted over stolen clothes 'business'
2003-9-10
Two former staff members of the Salvation Army (SA), charged by the ICAC, were today (Wednesday) convicted of their roles in a scheme to steal bulks of clothes from SA collection points and then sold them to second-hand clothes dealer for profits.
Former SA assistant supervisor Lai Fong-tak and his former assistant Chong Wing-chee, both 39; were found guilty on a joint charge of conspiracy to handle stolen goods which took place between July and October, 2002.
Kowloon City Magistrate Mr Peter Law adjourned sentencing until September 23, 2003, pending the defendants' probation and community service order reports. The defendants were each granted cash bail.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. ICAC inquiries revealed the conspiracy offence.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, Lai was the assistant supervisor of SA's Estate Collection Unit under its Recycling Programme for collecting clothes voluntarily donated by the public. Lai was assisted by Chong, while Sin Yau-shui was emp loyed as a part-time driver under the programme.
In August 2002, Lai and Chong, whilst still under the employ of SA, set up a business similar to SA's Recycling Programme, selling donated clothes to second-hand clothes dealers.
The court heard that Sin and Cheng King-hoi, a casual worker recruited by Lai, had on a number of occasions stolen donated clothes from SA's collection points to supply to the defendants' second-hand clothes business. Both defendants were in full knowled ge of the source of the clothes.
Sin and Cheng, also charged in the same case, had earlier pleaded guilty to a total of 13 counts of theft, pending sentence.
The ICAC has obtained full co-operation and assistance from SA throughout its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Beney Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Aman Chee.
Former SA assistant supervisor Lai Fong-tak and his former assistant Chong Wing-chee, both 39; were found guilty on a joint charge of conspiracy to handle stolen goods which took place between July and October, 2002.
Kowloon City Magistrate Mr Peter Law adjourned sentencing until September 23, 2003, pending the defendants' probation and community service order reports. The defendants were each granted cash bail.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. ICAC inquiries revealed the conspiracy offence.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, Lai was the assistant supervisor of SA's Estate Collection Unit under its Recycling Programme for collecting clothes voluntarily donated by the public. Lai was assisted by Chong, while Sin Yau-shui was emp loyed as a part-time driver under the programme.
In August 2002, Lai and Chong, whilst still under the employ of SA, set up a business similar to SA's Recycling Programme, selling donated clothes to second-hand clothes dealers.
The court heard that Sin and Cheng King-hoi, a casual worker recruited by Lai, had on a number of occasions stolen donated clothes from SA's collection points to supply to the defendants' second-hand clothes business. Both defendants were in full knowled ge of the source of the clothes.
Sin and Cheng, also charged in the same case, had earlier pleaded guilty to a total of 13 counts of theft, pending sentence.
The ICAC has obtained full co-operation and assistance from SA throughout its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Beney Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Aman Chee.