CUHK Reader sentenced for $860,000 housing allowance fraud
2004-5-20
A Reader of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced at District Court for using false documents to deceive Private Tenancy Allowance (PTA) totalling about $860,000 from the university.
Lau Ming-chu, 49, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to repay to CUHK about $260,000, which was the difference of the amount she would be otherwise entitled to under the Home Purchase Scheme.
Lau was today found guilty of two counts of an agent using a false document with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
In sentencing, Judge Line said the PBO offences were serious, but in view of her contribution to the society, a suspended sentence was imposed.
The court heard that at the time of the PBO offences, Lau was a Senior Lecturer of CUHK.
Lau had used two applications for PTA, respectively on June 21, 1996 and June 22, 1998, in relation to a leased accommodation in Hong Lok Yuen, Tai Po, which contained a false, erroneous or defective statement, with intent to deceive CUHK.
The false statement claimed that the leased property was not owned by herself and/or her spouse, and that neither she, her spouse or any of her spouse's families had a financial interest in it.
The court heard that as a result of false representations, Lau had obtained PTA totalling over $860,000 from the university.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel William Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Venus Shum.
Lau Ming-chu, 49, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to repay to CUHK about $260,000, which was the difference of the amount she would be otherwise entitled to under the Home Purchase Scheme.
Lau was today found guilty of two counts of an agent using a false document with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
In sentencing, Judge Line said the PBO offences were serious, but in view of her contribution to the society, a suspended sentence was imposed.
The court heard that at the time of the PBO offences, Lau was a Senior Lecturer of CUHK.
Lau had used two applications for PTA, respectively on June 21, 1996 and June 22, 1998, in relation to a leased accommodation in Hong Lok Yuen, Tai Po, which contained a false, erroneous or defective statement, with intent to deceive CUHK.
The false statement claimed that the leased property was not owned by herself and/or her spouse, and that neither she, her spouse or any of her spouse's families had a financial interest in it.
The court heard that as a result of false representations, Lau had obtained PTA totalling over $860,000 from the university.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel William Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Venus Shum.