Woman jailed for fabricating graft report against police officers
2004-4-28
A woman was today (Wednesday) sentenced to four months' imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for fabricating a corruption report against a number of police officers, accusing them of accepting an advantage for framing her for deception.
Ann Koo Tin-na, 52, charged by the ICAC, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly misleading an ICAC officer, contrary to Section 13B(b) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy ordered two months of Koo's sentence were to run concurrently to a previous jail term meted out in relation to the deception case investigated by the Police.
The court heard that on March 17, 2003, the defendant was arrested by police officers for alleged deception offences.
After having been released on bail the next day, the defendant telephoned the ICAC Report Centre, alleging that those police officers might have accepted advantages for framing her.
When she was interviewed by ICAC officers on March 20, 2003, the defendant confirmed her allegation against the police officers.
ICAC inquiries subsequently revealed that the defendant had supplied false information in relation to her graft complaint.
On January 5 this year, the defendant was arrested by ICAC officers. When interviewed under caution, she admitted that she had provided false information to the Commission.
An ICAC spokesman warned that it was a serious offence to make false reports to the ICAC and abuse the Commission's resources.
"A person will be prosecuted if he is found to have knowingly given false information or made a false report to the ICAC. If convicted, he is liable to a fine of $20,000 and to an imprisonment of one year," the spokesman said.
"However, any person who reports suspected corruption to the ICAC in good faith should not be deterred or fear prosecution even if the allegation may turn out to be unsubstantiated," the spokesman said.
Since 2001, nine persons, including Koo, had been prosecuted for knowingly misleading the ICAC. Eight of them were convicted or pleaded guilty, and received sentences ranging from a fine to eight months' imprisonment. The remaining defendant is pending trial.
The prosecution was today represented by court prosecutor Brian Lai, assisted by ICAC officer Phoebe Saesam.
Ann Koo Tin-na, 52, charged by the ICAC, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly misleading an ICAC officer, contrary to Section 13B(b) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy ordered two months of Koo's sentence were to run concurrently to a previous jail term meted out in relation to the deception case investigated by the Police.
The court heard that on March 17, 2003, the defendant was arrested by police officers for alleged deception offences.
After having been released on bail the next day, the defendant telephoned the ICAC Report Centre, alleging that those police officers might have accepted advantages for framing her.
When she was interviewed by ICAC officers on March 20, 2003, the defendant confirmed her allegation against the police officers.
ICAC inquiries subsequently revealed that the defendant had supplied false information in relation to her graft complaint.
On January 5 this year, the defendant was arrested by ICAC officers. When interviewed under caution, she admitted that she had provided false information to the Commission.
An ICAC spokesman warned that it was a serious offence to make false reports to the ICAC and abuse the Commission's resources.
"A person will be prosecuted if he is found to have knowingly given false information or made a false report to the ICAC. If convicted, he is liable to a fine of $20,000 and to an imprisonment of one year," the spokesman said.
"However, any person who reports suspected corruption to the ICAC in good faith should not be deterred or fear prosecution even if the allegation may turn out to be unsubstantiated," the spokesman said.
Since 2001, nine persons, including Koo, had been prosecuted for knowingly misleading the ICAC. Eight of them were convicted or pleaded guilty, and received sentences ranging from a fine to eight months' imprisonment. The remaining defendant is pending trial.
The prosecution was today represented by court prosecutor Brian Lai, assisted by ICAC officer Phoebe Saesam.