Eight charged for allegedly deceiving $147,000 government education assistance
2005-11-16
The ICAC has today (Wednesday) charged eight persons for allegedly conspiring to defraud the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) of $147,000 in financial assistance for continuing education.
The defendants are Chan Tai-nam, 57, cleansing worker, Apple Chan Tak-lam, 29, unemployed, Lo Suet-ying, 22, unemployed; Chan Kam-moon, 48, transportation worker, Au Kin-cheung, 44, driver; Choy Lai-ying, 40, unemployed, Cheung Wai-shing, 43, security gua rd; and Kong Wai-ho, 22, telesales executive.
They will appear in Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am this Friday (November 18) on a total of 10 charges in four separate cases.
The defendants were earlier arrested during a corruption inquiry.
In the first case, Chan Tai-nam, Chan Tak-lam and Lo Suet-ying face three charges of conspiracy to defraud.
One of the charges alleges Chan Tai-nam and Chan Tak-lam of conspiring with other persons to defraud the SFAA.
They are alleged to have dishonestly submitted an pplication in the name of Chan Tai-nam to the SFAA for a loan under the Non-means Tested Loan Scheme.
It is alleged that they had submitted to the SFAA false employment information and proof concerning Chan Tak-lam who was named as an indemnifier in support of the application, and had falsely represented to the SFAA that the employment and proof of the pu rported indemnifer were geninue and accurate when in fact they were not.
They are also alleged to have submitted an application in the name of Chan Tai-nam to the SFAA for a subsidy from the Continuing Education Fund.
It is alleged that they had falsely represented to the SFAA that Chan Tai-nam genuinely intended to attend a practical financial planning course offered by an education centre, and that Chan Tai-nam had satisfactorily completed the course.
Chan Tai-lam and Lo Suet-ying each faces one similar offence of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA.
In the second case, Chan Kam-moon has been charged with three similar offences of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA, while Au Kin-cheung faces a similar offence.
In the third case, Choy Lai-ying and Cheung Wai-shing face a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA. Choy further faces a similar offence.
In the last case, Kong Wai-ho faces one count of forgery by making a false certificate of employment, with the intent to induce the SFAA to accept it as genuine.
As a result of the alleged fraudulent acts, the defendants had defrauded the SFAA of education assistance totalling $147,000.
The alleged offences of conspiracy to defraud and forgery took place between May and November last year.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Friday.
The defendants are Chan Tai-nam, 57, cleansing worker, Apple Chan Tak-lam, 29, unemployed, Lo Suet-ying, 22, unemployed; Chan Kam-moon, 48, transportation worker, Au Kin-cheung, 44, driver; Choy Lai-ying, 40, unemployed, Cheung Wai-shing, 43, security gua rd; and Kong Wai-ho, 22, telesales executive.
They will appear in Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am this Friday (November 18) on a total of 10 charges in four separate cases.
The defendants were earlier arrested during a corruption inquiry.
In the first case, Chan Tai-nam, Chan Tak-lam and Lo Suet-ying face three charges of conspiracy to defraud.
One of the charges alleges Chan Tai-nam and Chan Tak-lam of conspiring with other persons to defraud the SFAA.
They are alleged to have dishonestly submitted an pplication in the name of Chan Tai-nam to the SFAA for a loan under the Non-means Tested Loan Scheme.
It is alleged that they had submitted to the SFAA false employment information and proof concerning Chan Tak-lam who was named as an indemnifier in support of the application, and had falsely represented to the SFAA that the employment and proof of the pu rported indemnifer were geninue and accurate when in fact they were not.
They are also alleged to have submitted an application in the name of Chan Tai-nam to the SFAA for a subsidy from the Continuing Education Fund.
It is alleged that they had falsely represented to the SFAA that Chan Tai-nam genuinely intended to attend a practical financial planning course offered by an education centre, and that Chan Tai-nam had satisfactorily completed the course.
Chan Tai-lam and Lo Suet-ying each faces one similar offence of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA.
In the second case, Chan Kam-moon has been charged with three similar offences of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA, while Au Kin-cheung faces a similar offence.
In the third case, Choy Lai-ying and Cheung Wai-shing face a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA. Choy further faces a similar offence.
In the last case, Kong Wai-ho faces one count of forgery by making a false certificate of employment, with the intent to induce the SFAA to accept it as genuine.
As a result of the alleged fraudulent acts, the defendants had defrauded the SFAA of education assistance totalling $147,000.
The alleged offences of conspiracy to defraud and forgery took place between May and November last year.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Friday.