Four months for CSD officer accepting loan without permission and introducing unauthorised articles into prison
2004-2-20
An Assistant Officer II of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) was today (Friday) sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for accepting a $2,000 loan without permission and helping an inmate bring a cheque into Shek Pik Prison for his signature.
Anders Lee Chi-ming, 33, was also ordered to pay a restitution of $2,000 to the government.
Lee earlier pleaded guilty to four offences –'96 one of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, one of introducing an unauthorised article into prison, and two of carrying an unauthorised article out of prison.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Pang Chung-ping reprimanded Lee for the serious breach of trust.
The magistrate said the starting point of nine months was reduced to four months, taking into account the defendant's guilty plea and his assistance rendered to the ICAC in its inquiry.
Also charged in connection with the case was Vu Van-lao, 36, who received a jail term of four months for his role.
Vu earlier pleaded guilty to one count of introducing an unauthorised article into prison, and two of carrying an unauthorised article out of prison.
The court heard that in May last year, Vu, who was serving his term at Shek Pik Prison, undertook to arrange for a cheque for $220,000 to be introduced into the prison by Lee for delivery to another inmate for his signature for a reward of $30,000 to $50, 000.
Upon receiving information about the plot, CSD referred the matter to the ICAC for investigation as corruption involving CSD officers was then suspected.
An ICAC undercover officer was deployed to pose as the inmate's girlfriend.
On June 4 last year, the undercover officer received a phone call from Lee asking for the cheque.
A week later, Lee, after obtaining the cheque from the ICAC undercover officer, brought it into the prison without authorisation and passed it to the inmate through Vu.
After signing the cheque, the inmate returned it to Lee through Vu.
On the following day, Lee brought the cheque out of the prison without authorisation and gave it to the ICAC undercover officer.
The court heard that Lee, who was in need of money, asked the ICAC undercover officer for a $2,000 loan which he received at a subsequent meeting with the officer.
The court also heard that on June 17 last year, the inmate handed Vu a handwritten note, requesting his girlfriend to purchase a bracelet for him.
Vu passed the note to Lee, who subsequently brought it out of the prison without authorisation, and arranged to meet the ICAC undercover officer.
Lee was arrested by ICAC officers after he had passed the note to the undercover officer.
The prosecution was today represented by Flora Cheng on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Gary Wong.
Anders Lee Chi-ming, 33, was also ordered to pay a restitution of $2,000 to the government.
Lee earlier pleaded guilty to four offences –'96 one of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, one of introducing an unauthorised article into prison, and two of carrying an unauthorised article out of prison.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Pang Chung-ping reprimanded Lee for the serious breach of trust.
The magistrate said the starting point of nine months was reduced to four months, taking into account the defendant's guilty plea and his assistance rendered to the ICAC in its inquiry.
Also charged in connection with the case was Vu Van-lao, 36, who received a jail term of four months for his role.
Vu earlier pleaded guilty to one count of introducing an unauthorised article into prison, and two of carrying an unauthorised article out of prison.
The court heard that in May last year, Vu, who was serving his term at Shek Pik Prison, undertook to arrange for a cheque for $220,000 to be introduced into the prison by Lee for delivery to another inmate for his signature for a reward of $30,000 to $50, 000.
Upon receiving information about the plot, CSD referred the matter to the ICAC for investigation as corruption involving CSD officers was then suspected.
An ICAC undercover officer was deployed to pose as the inmate's girlfriend.
On June 4 last year, the undercover officer received a phone call from Lee asking for the cheque.
A week later, Lee, after obtaining the cheque from the ICAC undercover officer, brought it into the prison without authorisation and passed it to the inmate through Vu.
After signing the cheque, the inmate returned it to Lee through Vu.
On the following day, Lee brought the cheque out of the prison without authorisation and gave it to the ICAC undercover officer.
The court heard that Lee, who was in need of money, asked the ICAC undercover officer for a $2,000 loan which he received at a subsequent meeting with the officer.
The court also heard that on June 17 last year, the inmate handed Vu a handwritten note, requesting his girlfriend to purchase a bracelet for him.
Vu passed the note to Lee, who subsequently brought it out of the prison without authorisation, and arranged to meet the ICAC undercover officer.
Lee was arrested by ICAC officers after he had passed the note to the undercover officer.
The prosecution was today represented by Flora Cheng on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Gary Wong.