HAB officer jailed for misappropriating $1.5m youth programme funds
2006-9-20
An officer of the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB), charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to three years' imprisonment at the District Court for misappropriating government funds totalling $1.5 million in relation to the bureau's youth exchange pr ogrammes.
Michael Man Wing-kun, 43, Executive Officer I, was earlier found guilty of five counts of theft.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Ernest Lin Kam-hung said an immediate custodial sentence must be imposed on the defendant, in view of his serious breach of trust.
The case arose from a referral from HAB, which suspected that one of its officers might have corruptly used false documents to deceive the bureau. Subsequent ICAC inquiries revealed the theft offences.
The court heard that in 2004, HAB organised five youth exchange programmes, of which the defendant was the officer-in-charge.
To facilitate the smooth running of the programmes, HAB released five imprest funds, totalling $1.5 million, in advance to the defendant's bank account between June and November 2004 for settlement of expenses incurred.
After each of the five imprest funds was deposited into his bank account, the defendant transferred part of it to another bank account. Part of the fund was then transferred to his telebet account at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for gambling on horse racing and soccer matches.
The court heard that after the completion of the five programmes, the defendant failed to submit any statement of account to HAB as required, but applied for deferrals claiming that he was awaiting accounting documents from the service providers concerned .
Up to February 14, 2005, the defendant only submitted a statement of account with 22 corresponding receipts to HAB in respect of one of the programmes.
A week later, the defendant's wife and his mother-in-law gave him about $142,000 and $190,000 respectively to settle part of the expenses incurred from the programmes concerned.
On the following day, ICAC officers searched the defendant's home and office premises, where 95 receipts concerning the four remaining programmes and some blank receipts were found.
Most of the receipts in respect of the five programmes were found to be false.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that he was in financial hardship, the court was told.
HAB had offered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hin-lee, assisted by ICAC officer Sarah Lau.
Michael Man Wing-kun, 43, Executive Officer I, was earlier found guilty of five counts of theft.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Ernest Lin Kam-hung said an immediate custodial sentence must be imposed on the defendant, in view of his serious breach of trust.
The case arose from a referral from HAB, which suspected that one of its officers might have corruptly used false documents to deceive the bureau. Subsequent ICAC inquiries revealed the theft offences.
The court heard that in 2004, HAB organised five youth exchange programmes, of which the defendant was the officer-in-charge.
To facilitate the smooth running of the programmes, HAB released five imprest funds, totalling $1.5 million, in advance to the defendant's bank account between June and November 2004 for settlement of expenses incurred.
After each of the five imprest funds was deposited into his bank account, the defendant transferred part of it to another bank account. Part of the fund was then transferred to his telebet account at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for gambling on horse racing and soccer matches.
The court heard that after the completion of the five programmes, the defendant failed to submit any statement of account to HAB as required, but applied for deferrals claiming that he was awaiting accounting documents from the service providers concerned .
Up to February 14, 2005, the defendant only submitted a statement of account with 22 corresponding receipts to HAB in respect of one of the programmes.
A week later, the defendant's wife and his mother-in-law gave him about $142,000 and $190,000 respectively to settle part of the expenses incurred from the programmes concerned.
On the following day, ICAC officers searched the defendant's home and office premises, where 95 receipts concerning the four remaining programmes and some blank receipts were found.
Most of the receipts in respect of the five programmes were found to be false.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that he was in financial hardship, the court was told.
HAB had offered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hin-lee, assisted by ICAC officer Sarah Lau.