Hospital Authority manager gets 4 months for disclosing identity of person under ICAC probe
2006-9-1
A manager of the Hospital Authority (HA) was today (Friday) sentenced to four months' imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for conspiring to disclose to the media the identity of a person under investigation by the ICAC.
Vasco Lee Yum-sang, 44, a design manager of HA, was today found guilty of one count of conspiracy to disclose the identity of a person being investigated by the ICAC, contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
Co-defendant Fu Bik, 32, a former assistant public affairs manager of HA, earlier pleaded guilty to a similar offence. She was jailed for six weeks, suspended for one year.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr William Lam Kui-po said a custodial sentence must be imposed on Lee as he had committed the offence maliciously, and shown no remorse.
The magistrate added that Lee had also made use of Fu’s friendship to commit the offence, which posed hindrance to ICAC’s investigations.
The court heard that on April 4, 2005, Lee lodged a complaint with the ICAC, alleging that his supervisor might have corruptly awarded a design contract to a contractor.
Lee was subsequently interviewed by ICAC officers, with two witness statements taken.
At the conclusion of the interview, Lee was reminded by ICAC officers that he had to keep the ICAC investigation confidential and any unauthorized disclosure might constitute an offence under Section 30 of the PBO.
The court heard that Lee later learnt from his colleagues that his supervisor was going to attend an interview at the ICAC on September 22, 2005.
Believing that it was related to his complaint, Lee asked Fu to disclose his supervisor’s appointment with the ICAC and details of the ICAC investigation to the media, so as to let everybody know about the matter.
Acceding to his request, Fu prepared an anonymous letter, stating that Lee’s supervisor was the subject of an ICAC investigation in relation to an HA tendering project, while another senior executive of HA had also assisted in the investigation.
Shortly before the ICAC’s interview with Lee’s supervisor, Fu faxed the anonymous letter to six media organisations at a convenience store in Causeway Bay. Two TV stations also received the anonymous letter.
HA subsequently received press enquiries about the alleged bribery. The supervisor was made aware of the enquiries and decided not to attend the scheduled ICAC interview.
As a result, nine local newspapers, quoting the anonymous letter, reported on the following day that two senior staff members of HA were accused of bribery in relation to the awarding of a publicity contract.
On December 1, 2005, Lee and Fu were arrested by ICAC officers, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions William Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Marco Law.
Vasco Lee Yum-sang, 44, a design manager of HA, was today found guilty of one count of conspiracy to disclose the identity of a person being investigated by the ICAC, contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
Co-defendant Fu Bik, 32, a former assistant public affairs manager of HA, earlier pleaded guilty to a similar offence. She was jailed for six weeks, suspended for one year.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr William Lam Kui-po said a custodial sentence must be imposed on Lee as he had committed the offence maliciously, and shown no remorse.
The magistrate added that Lee had also made use of Fu’s friendship to commit the offence, which posed hindrance to ICAC’s investigations.
The court heard that on April 4, 2005, Lee lodged a complaint with the ICAC, alleging that his supervisor might have corruptly awarded a design contract to a contractor.
Lee was subsequently interviewed by ICAC officers, with two witness statements taken.
At the conclusion of the interview, Lee was reminded by ICAC officers that he had to keep the ICAC investigation confidential and any unauthorized disclosure might constitute an offence under Section 30 of the PBO.
The court heard that Lee later learnt from his colleagues that his supervisor was going to attend an interview at the ICAC on September 22, 2005.
Believing that it was related to his complaint, Lee asked Fu to disclose his supervisor’s appointment with the ICAC and details of the ICAC investigation to the media, so as to let everybody know about the matter.
Acceding to his request, Fu prepared an anonymous letter, stating that Lee’s supervisor was the subject of an ICAC investigation in relation to an HA tendering project, while another senior executive of HA had also assisted in the investigation.
Shortly before the ICAC’s interview with Lee’s supervisor, Fu faxed the anonymous letter to six media organisations at a convenience store in Causeway Bay. Two TV stations also received the anonymous letter.
HA subsequently received press enquiries about the alleged bribery. The supervisor was made aware of the enquiries and decided not to attend the scheduled ICAC interview.
As a result, nine local newspapers, quoting the anonymous letter, reported on the following day that two senior staff members of HA were accused of bribery in relation to the awarding of a publicity contract.
On December 1, 2005, Lee and Fu were arrested by ICAC officers, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions William Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Marco Law.