Tourism Board manageress and subordinates face court for alleged false claims of entertainment fees
2004-7-2
Three staff members of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), charged by the ICAC for allegedly making false claims of entertainment and taxi expenses totalling over $8,000 from HKTB, appeared at Eastern Magistracy today (Friday).
Elsie Wan Yuen-yee, 55, Manageress of HKTB; Luk Chi-man, 24, and Choi Sau-yee, 27, both Officers of HKTB, pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery O rdinance, and one of conspiracy to defraud.
Magistrate Mr David Thomas adjourned the case until August 13, 2004 for a pre-trial review, and granted the defendants cash bail ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
Six of the charges alleged Wan of using HKTB's Expense Claim Forms for the reimbursement of expenses purportedly incurred in connection with the entertainment of guests of HKTB at various restaurants.
The charges alleged that statements in relation to the purpose of such entertainment and the identities of persons so entertained as contained in these Expense Claim Forms were to her knowledge intended to mislead HKTB, and were false in a material partic ular.
Wan and Luk faced three similar charges, while Choi alone faced two similar offences.
Wan and Luk further faced one count of conspiring together and with another person to defraud HKTB by dishonestly inducing HKTB to reimburse Luk and the other person for taxi expenses which the latter had not incurred.
It was alleged that the defendants had fraudulently obtained reimbursement totalling over $8,000 from HKTB.
The alleged offences took place between June 2002 and August 2003.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Mabel Chu.
Elsie Wan Yuen-yee, 55, Manageress of HKTB; Luk Chi-man, 24, and Choi Sau-yee, 27, both Officers of HKTB, pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery O rdinance, and one of conspiracy to defraud.
Magistrate Mr David Thomas adjourned the case until August 13, 2004 for a pre-trial review, and granted the defendants cash bail ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
Six of the charges alleged Wan of using HKTB's Expense Claim Forms for the reimbursement of expenses purportedly incurred in connection with the entertainment of guests of HKTB at various restaurants.
The charges alleged that statements in relation to the purpose of such entertainment and the identities of persons so entertained as contained in these Expense Claim Forms were to her knowledge intended to mislead HKTB, and were false in a material partic ular.
Wan and Luk faced three similar charges, while Choi alone faced two similar offences.
Wan and Luk further faced one count of conspiring together and with another person to defraud HKTB by dishonestly inducing HKTB to reimburse Luk and the other person for taxi expenses which the latter had not incurred.
It was alleged that the defendants had fraudulently obtained reimbursement totalling over $8,000 from HKTB.
The alleged offences took place between June 2002 and August 2003.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Mabel Chu.