Chief Technical Officer of DSD admits accepting unauthorised loans and fraud
2005-10-10
A Chief Technical Officer of the Drainage Services Department (DSD), charged by the ICAC, admitted at Eastern Magistracy today (Monday) that he had accepted unauthorised loans totalling $70,000 from subordinates and deceived loans of $125,000 from colleag ues under various false pretexts.
Wong Koon-wah, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of, being a prescribed officer, accepting an advantage without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He also admitted five counts of fraud and one of theft.
Magistrate Mr Li Wai-chi adjourned the case until October 24, 2005 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that in October 2003, the defendant asked for a $60,000 loan from a subordinate on the pretext that he needed money to hire lawyers for his son who was involved in a criminal case of fighting in a public place.
After the subordinate acceded to his request, the defendant accepted the loan in two payments.
In July 2004, the defendant asked for and accepted another loan of $10,000 from a second subordinate because he was in urgent need of money.
Between November 2003 and August 2004, the defendant had cheated five other colleagues into granting him loans totalling $125,000 on various false pretexts.
The defendant had falsely represented to his colleagues that he had to raise money for meeting the legal costs for his son’s legal proceedings, and to help another colleague who was in trouble.
The court also heard that the defendant also stole a SIM card from a contractor for his personal use, causing the contractor to pay telephone service charges totalling over $9,000.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel William Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Conrad Wan.
Wong Koon-wah, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of, being a prescribed officer, accepting an advantage without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He also admitted five counts of fraud and one of theft.
Magistrate Mr Li Wai-chi adjourned the case until October 24, 2005 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that in October 2003, the defendant asked for a $60,000 loan from a subordinate on the pretext that he needed money to hire lawyers for his son who was involved in a criminal case of fighting in a public place.
After the subordinate acceded to his request, the defendant accepted the loan in two payments.
In July 2004, the defendant asked for and accepted another loan of $10,000 from a second subordinate because he was in urgent need of money.
Between November 2003 and August 2004, the defendant had cheated five other colleagues into granting him loans totalling $125,000 on various false pretexts.
The defendant had falsely represented to his colleagues that he had to raise money for meeting the legal costs for his son’s legal proceedings, and to help another colleague who was in trouble.
The court also heard that the defendant also stole a SIM card from a contractor for his personal use, causing the contractor to pay telephone service charges totalling over $9,000.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel William Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Conrad Wan.