District Councillor gets 18 months for $600,000 false rental claims
2006-12-1
A member of the Kowloon City District Council (KCDC), charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at the District Court for fraudulently obtaining rental allowances totalling over $600,000 from the Government by inflating the rental receipts for her ward office.
Virginia Fung King-man, 59, was found guilty of four counts of furnishing false information.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong said the defendant's act was premeditated.
The judge added that the defendant undermined the trust placed in her by the public, who expected a high degree of integrity from district councillors.
The case arose from corruption allegations involving some district councillors. ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant had furnished false information in claiming rental allowances from the Government.
The court heard that between July 1997 and December 1999, the defendant served in the Kowloon City Provisional District Board (KCPDB).
Between September 1998 and September 2004, the defendant produced to the KCPDB and KCDC a total of 72 rental receipts for claiming Government allowances for renting a ward office in Wuhu Street, Hung Hom.
These receipts purportedly showed that Fung had paid a monthly rent of $5,080, $9,000 or $10,000 in different periods of time between August 1998 and August 2004, the court was told.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant had inflated the amounts of rental contained in those receipts, and as a result obtained a total of $603,550 in rental allowances from the Government.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Po-wing, assisted by ICAC officer Gustave Leung.
Virginia Fung King-man, 59, was found guilty of four counts of furnishing false information.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong said the defendant's act was premeditated.
The judge added that the defendant undermined the trust placed in her by the public, who expected a high degree of integrity from district councillors.
The case arose from corruption allegations involving some district councillors. ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant had furnished false information in claiming rental allowances from the Government.
The court heard that between July 1997 and December 1999, the defendant served in the Kowloon City Provisional District Board (KCPDB).
Between September 1998 and September 2004, the defendant produced to the KCPDB and KCDC a total of 72 rental receipts for claiming Government allowances for renting a ward office in Wuhu Street, Hung Hom.
These receipts purportedly showed that Fung had paid a monthly rent of $5,080, $9,000 or $10,000 in different periods of time between August 1998 and August 2004, the court was told.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant had inflated the amounts of rental contained in those receipts, and as a result obtained a total of $603,550 in rental allowances from the Government.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Po-wing, assisted by ICAC officer Gustave Leung.