One year's jail for Kwai Tsing District Councillor deceiving DC funds
2003-9-22
A member of the Kwai Tsing District Council (KTDC), charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to one year's imprisonment at Tsuen Wan Magistracy for making false claims of expenditures from KTDC in relation to district activities.
Chiu Wah-shing, 55, was earlier found guilty of eight counts of false accounting.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Lambert Lee said the scheme, which went on for a lengthy period, was premeditated.
The magistrate reprimanded the defendant for showing no remorse, adding that a community service order was not appropriate in view of the serious breach of trust.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that Chiu had abused his official capacity in making false claims for subsidies from KTDC.
The court heard that between August 2000 and August 2001, Chiu, while applying for reimbursement of expenses incurred at various district activities, had on a number of occasions dishonestly produced to KTDC materials which to his knowledge were false.
Such materials purported to show expenses incurred at activities organised by the Tsing Yi Healthy Dance Association, the Association of Tsing Yi North Residents, the Kwai Tsing District Civic Education Committee, the KTDC Planning and Environmental Prote ction Working Group, and a sub-working group under the Home Ownership Scheme/Housing Assistance/Tenants Purchase Scheme Concern Group attached to KTDC's Housing Affairs Committee.
The court heard that some of these activities stated in the applications for reimbursement never took place. The total false claims made by the defendant amounted to about $50,000.
The prosecution was today represented by Kelly Shui on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Winnie Lee.
Chiu Wah-shing, 55, was earlier found guilty of eight counts of false accounting.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Lambert Lee said the scheme, which went on for a lengthy period, was premeditated.
The magistrate reprimanded the defendant for showing no remorse, adding that a community service order was not appropriate in view of the serious breach of trust.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that Chiu had abused his official capacity in making false claims for subsidies from KTDC.
The court heard that between August 2000 and August 2001, Chiu, while applying for reimbursement of expenses incurred at various district activities, had on a number of occasions dishonestly produced to KTDC materials which to his knowledge were false.
Such materials purported to show expenses incurred at activities organised by the Tsing Yi Healthy Dance Association, the Association of Tsing Yi North Residents, the Kwai Tsing District Civic Education Committee, the KTDC Planning and Environmental Prote ction Working Group, and a sub-working group under the Home Ownership Scheme/Housing Assistance/Tenants Purchase Scheme Concern Group attached to KTDC's Housing Affairs Committee.
The court heard that some of these activities stated in the applications for reimbursement never took place. The total false claims made by the defendant amounted to about $50,000.
The prosecution was today represented by Kelly Shui on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Winnie Lee.