Social Welfare Department officer arrested for allegedly taking bribe from CSSA recipient
2004-2-19
The ICAC has arrested a Social Security Officer II of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for allegedly soliciting and accepting $3,000 from a recipient of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) for not taking action against the latter's fail ure to disclose her income to SWD.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by SWD. The SWD officer was arrested in an operation on Tuesday (February 17), following a thorough investigation by the ICAC.
Under the CSSA scheme, a recipient is required to return to SWD any excessive amount of subsidy if he receives monetary rewards from an employment.
An SWD investigation earlier suspected that a CSSA recipient had purposely concealed her employment in her application. The arrested officer was then assigned to review the application.
ICAC inquiries revealed that during an interview with the recipient concerned, the SWD officer allegedly solicited $3,000 from her for not taking action against her alleged fraudulent practice.
Believing that the SWD officer would help "settle" the SWD investigation and that she would not be asked to return the excessive amount of subsidy, the recipient gave the officer $3,000 in cash during a meeting inside an SWD interview room.
SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestee has been released on ICAC bail. Inquiries are continuing.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by SWD. The SWD officer was arrested in an operation on Tuesday (February 17), following a thorough investigation by the ICAC.
Under the CSSA scheme, a recipient is required to return to SWD any excessive amount of subsidy if he receives monetary rewards from an employment.
An SWD investigation earlier suspected that a CSSA recipient had purposely concealed her employment in her application. The arrested officer was then assigned to review the application.
ICAC inquiries revealed that during an interview with the recipient concerned, the SWD officer allegedly solicited $3,000 from her for not taking action against her alleged fraudulent practice.
Believing that the SWD officer would help "settle" the SWD investigation and that she would not be asked to return the excessive amount of subsidy, the recipient gave the officer $3,000 in cash during a meeting inside an SWD interview room.
SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestee has been released on ICAC bail. Inquiries are continuing.