Property agent gets 5 months for defrauding Housing Society of resumption compensation
2006-9-5
A property agent, charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to five months' imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for conspiracy to defraud the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) of resumption compensation in respect of a redevelopment project in Shau keiwan.
Peggy Ngan Pik-chun, 43, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Willam Lam Kui-po said Ngan Pik-chun was the mastermind of the pre-determined scheme to deceive the resumption compensation from the HKHS.
The magistrate also reprimanded Ngan Pik-chun for committing the serious offence, and showing no remorse.
Co-defendants Ngan Wai-keung, 40, a hairdresser, and Ng Yin-hing, 42, a salesperson, were also convicted of the same offence.
The magistrate adjourned their sentencing until September 19, 2006, pending community service order reports. Ngan Wai-keung was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department, whilst Ng was allowed cash bail of $5,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the offence of conspiracy to defraud the HKHS.
The court heard that in mid 2003, Ngan Pik-chun arranged his brother Ngan Wai-keung to rent a flat as the principal tenant in one of the buildings in the redevelopment project.
Ngan Pik-chun also invited a man surnamed Leung to act as a bogus sub-tenant of a room inside the flat.
Ngan Pik-chun told Leung that he was not required to pay any rental or move into the room, but Leung had to tell HKHS officers during an occupancy survey that he was residing there.
The court heard that Ngan Pik-chun promised to give Leung $10,000 out of the resumption compensation to be collected from HKHS. Leung agreed to the arrangement.
Shortly before the occupancy survey was conducted on November 29, 2003, Ngan Pik-chun met Leung in a restaurant where she introduced Leung to Ngan Wai-keung and Ng Yin-hing.
At the meeting, Ngan Pik-chun told Leung that a bogus tenancy agreement and rental receipts had been placed inside the room for the purpose of the survey.
During the occupancy survey, Ngan Wai-keung, Ng Yin-hing and Leung were present.
Ngan Wai-keung and Ng Yin-hing falsely represented to HKHS officers that Leung was one of their sub-tenants, and produced to them the tenancy agreement and rental receipts as proof.
In April 2004, Leung learnt of press reports of an ICAC arrest operation concerning false claims of cash compensation in other redevelopment projects, and retreated from the scheme.
In December 2004, Ng Yin-hing informed the HKHS that Ngan Wai-keung, Leung and herself did not pursue the resumption compensation, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Laurence Poots, assisted by ICAC officer Jamie Fung.
Peggy Ngan Pik-chun, 43, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Willam Lam Kui-po said Ngan Pik-chun was the mastermind of the pre-determined scheme to deceive the resumption compensation from the HKHS.
The magistrate also reprimanded Ngan Pik-chun for committing the serious offence, and showing no remorse.
Co-defendants Ngan Wai-keung, 40, a hairdresser, and Ng Yin-hing, 42, a salesperson, were also convicted of the same offence.
The magistrate adjourned their sentencing until September 19, 2006, pending community service order reports. Ngan Wai-keung was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department, whilst Ng was allowed cash bail of $5,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the offence of conspiracy to defraud the HKHS.
The court heard that in mid 2003, Ngan Pik-chun arranged his brother Ngan Wai-keung to rent a flat as the principal tenant in one of the buildings in the redevelopment project.
Ngan Pik-chun also invited a man surnamed Leung to act as a bogus sub-tenant of a room inside the flat.
Ngan Pik-chun told Leung that he was not required to pay any rental or move into the room, but Leung had to tell HKHS officers during an occupancy survey that he was residing there.
The court heard that Ngan Pik-chun promised to give Leung $10,000 out of the resumption compensation to be collected from HKHS. Leung agreed to the arrangement.
Shortly before the occupancy survey was conducted on November 29, 2003, Ngan Pik-chun met Leung in a restaurant where she introduced Leung to Ngan Wai-keung and Ng Yin-hing.
At the meeting, Ngan Pik-chun told Leung that a bogus tenancy agreement and rental receipts had been placed inside the room for the purpose of the survey.
During the occupancy survey, Ngan Wai-keung, Ng Yin-hing and Leung were present.
Ngan Wai-keung and Ng Yin-hing falsely represented to HKHS officers that Leung was one of their sub-tenants, and produced to them the tenancy agreement and rental receipts as proof.
In April 2004, Leung learnt of press reports of an ICAC arrest operation concerning false claims of cash compensation in other redevelopment projects, and retreated from the scheme.
In December 2004, Ng Yin-hing informed the HKHS that Ngan Wai-keung, Leung and herself did not pursue the resumption compensation, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Laurence Poots, assisted by ICAC officer Jamie Fung.