CSD officer penalized for carrying letters out of prison for inmate and possessing dangerous drugs
2006-5-24
An officer of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) penalized at Eastern Magistracy for carrying unauthorised letters out of a prison, possessing dangerous drugs and tablets, and stealing prescription drugs .
Lau Wai-fai, 37, Assistant Officer II of CSD, was fined $12,000 by Magistrate Mr Winston Leung Wing-chung.
Lau was today found guilty of four offences –'96 carrying unauthorised articles out of prison, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of poison included in Part I of the Poisons List, and theft.
The case arose from a corruption report referred by CSD. Subsequent enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was an Acting Assistant Officer I attached to the hospital of Stanley Prison. He was responsible for supervising prisoners and distributing medicine to inmates.
The defendant was arrested by the ICAC on August 17 last year.
Upon searching his locker, ICAC officers seized an envelope containing two letters purportedly written by a serving prisoner –'96 one addressed to his wife, and the other addressed to a businessman.
On the same day, ICAC officers also searched the defendant's residence, where a quantity of dangerous drugs and tablets included in Part I of the Poisons List was seized.
When interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted that a serving prisoner had repeatedly asked him to carry two letters out of the prison and post them for him in order to avoid security check. The defendant had agreed.
The court also heard that between May 11, 1998 and August 17 last year, the defendant had stolen a quantity of prescription drugs from the hospital of the prison.
The prosecution was today represented by a court prosecutor, assisted by ICAC officer Gary Wong.
Lau Wai-fai, 37, Assistant Officer II of CSD, was fined $12,000 by Magistrate Mr Winston Leung Wing-chung.
Lau was today found guilty of four offences –'96 carrying unauthorised articles out of prison, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of poison included in Part I of the Poisons List, and theft.
The case arose from a corruption report referred by CSD. Subsequent enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was an Acting Assistant Officer I attached to the hospital of Stanley Prison. He was responsible for supervising prisoners and distributing medicine to inmates.
The defendant was arrested by the ICAC on August 17 last year.
Upon searching his locker, ICAC officers seized an envelope containing two letters purportedly written by a serving prisoner –'96 one addressed to his wife, and the other addressed to a businessman.
On the same day, ICAC officers also searched the defendant's residence, where a quantity of dangerous drugs and tablets included in Part I of the Poisons List was seized.
When interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted that a serving prisoner had repeatedly asked him to carry two letters out of the prison and post them for him in order to avoid security check. The defendant had agreed.
The court also heard that between May 11, 1998 and August 17 last year, the defendant had stolen a quantity of prescription drugs from the hospital of the prison.
The prosecution was today represented by a court prosecutor, assisted by ICAC officer Gary Wong.