Operators jailed for $250,000 retraining funding and allowances fraud
2017-1-27
Two operators of a training body, charged by the ICAC, were today (January 27) sentenced to jail terms up to 28 months at the District Court for conspiracy to defraud the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) of funding and trainee allowances totalling over $250,000.
Winnie Ng Wai-man, 49, chief executive officer of Knowledge Education Centre (KEC), received a jail term of 28 months, while Lui Pun-kuen, 51, general manager of KEC, was jailed for 21 months.
In sentencing, Judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong, sitting as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance, said the court had to mete out immediate custodial sentences to the defendants in view of their premeditated fraud scam, which involved a substantial amount of false documents.
The judge also said the defendants secured potential benefits from the scam, and reprimanded them for showing no remorse.
Ng was earlier found guilty of one count conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law, while Lui pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the ERB. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence of conspiracy to defraud.
The court heard that for the year of 2013-14, the ERB approved KEC to provide two training courses – Certificate in Nail Technician Training (NTT course) and Certificate in Nutrition Therapist Assistant Training (NTA course), each with 20 enrolments allocated.
KEC would be entitled to full funding of $100,800 and $154,800 if an enrolment rate of 90 per cent or above was attained for the NTT course and NTA course respectively.
In addition, each trainee attaining an attendance rate of 80 per cent or above would be entitled to a retaining allowance ranging from $770 to $2,460 from the ERB.
The court heard that between June 1 and October 4, 2013, Ng and Lui conspired together and with some staff members of KEC and some trainees of the two courses to defraud the ERB.
They falsely represented that the NTT course and NTA course were organised by KEC between July 2 and August 5, 2013 and between July 2 and August 13, 2013 respectively.
They also falsely represented that the enrolment rate and attendance rate of the NTT course and NTA course were respectively at or over 90 per cent and 80 per cent, and that the trainees in the courses had taken examinations.
As a result of the false representation, the ERB was induced to grant funding of $255,600 in total to KEC, and allowances ranging from $770 to $2,460 to some trainees of the courses, the court was told.
The ERB had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officer Alice Choi.
Winnie Ng Wai-man, 49, chief executive officer of Knowledge Education Centre (KEC), received a jail term of 28 months, while Lui Pun-kuen, 51, general manager of KEC, was jailed for 21 months.
In sentencing, Judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong, sitting as Deputy Judge of the Court of First Instance, said the court had to mete out immediate custodial sentences to the defendants in view of their premeditated fraud scam, which involved a substantial amount of false documents.
The judge also said the defendants secured potential benefits from the scam, and reprimanded them for showing no remorse.
Ng was earlier found guilty of one count conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law, while Lui pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the ERB. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence of conspiracy to defraud.
The court heard that for the year of 2013-14, the ERB approved KEC to provide two training courses – Certificate in Nail Technician Training (NTT course) and Certificate in Nutrition Therapist Assistant Training (NTA course), each with 20 enrolments allocated.
KEC would be entitled to full funding of $100,800 and $154,800 if an enrolment rate of 90 per cent or above was attained for the NTT course and NTA course respectively.
In addition, each trainee attaining an attendance rate of 80 per cent or above would be entitled to a retaining allowance ranging from $770 to $2,460 from the ERB.
The court heard that between June 1 and October 4, 2013, Ng and Lui conspired together and with some staff members of KEC and some trainees of the two courses to defraud the ERB.
They falsely represented that the NTT course and NTA course were organised by KEC between July 2 and August 5, 2013 and between July 2 and August 13, 2013 respectively.
They also falsely represented that the enrolment rate and attendance rate of the NTT course and NTA course were respectively at or over 90 per cent and 80 per cent, and that the trainees in the courses had taken examinations.
As a result of the false representation, the ERB was induced to grant funding of $255,600 in total to KEC, and allowances ranging from $770 to $2,460 to some trainees of the courses, the court was told.
The ERB had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officer Alice Choi.