Kwun Tong District Councillor and youth organisation chief jailed for false accounting over reimbursement of expenses
2007-2-8
A member of the Kwun Tong District Council (KTDC) and the chairman of a youth organisation, charged by the ICAC, received jail sentences at Kwun Tong Magistracy today (Thursday) for making false claims of expenses, totalling over $120,000, from KTDC with bogus quotations.
Law Chun-ngai, 44, member of KTDC, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment; while co-defendant Thomas Tang Chi-ming, 46, chairman of the Friends of the Youth (FOTY), received a prison term of nine months.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jason Wan said Law, being an elected District Councillor, had committed a serious breach of trust.
The magistrate also noted that Tang's act, which lasted over two years, was premeditated and warranted an immediate custodial sentence.
Law was today convicted on one count of false accounting, while Tang was found guilty on six similar charges.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the defendants had made false claims of expenses from KTDC using bogus quotations.
The court heard that on November 29, 2001, Law submitted to KTDC an application for reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with an activity organised by Shun Lee Community Development Association (SLCDA).
The court heard that to support the application, Law had provided four false quotations in relation to production of the event, purported to show that those quotations were issued by the respective companies as stated.
The court also heard that on six occasions between January 2002 and January 2003, Tang produced 19 false quotations to KTDC in support of applications for reimbursement of expenses relating to various activities organized by the Ping Tin Residents Associa tion (PTRA) and FOTY.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the production of six of the above activities organised by SLCDA, PTRA and FOTY was eventually contracted to companies owned or otherwise controlled by Tang.
Had KTDC known of the false quotations, it would not have issued payments totalling $21,240, $72,750 and $27,300 respectively to SLCDA, PTRA and FOTY, the court heard.
The case was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Jennie Sum.
Law Chun-ngai, 44, member of KTDC, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment; while co-defendant Thomas Tang Chi-ming, 46, chairman of the Friends of the Youth (FOTY), received a prison term of nine months.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jason Wan said Law, being an elected District Councillor, had committed a serious breach of trust.
The magistrate also noted that Tang's act, which lasted over two years, was premeditated and warranted an immediate custodial sentence.
Law was today convicted on one count of false accounting, while Tang was found guilty on six similar charges.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the defendants had made false claims of expenses from KTDC using bogus quotations.
The court heard that on November 29, 2001, Law submitted to KTDC an application for reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with an activity organised by Shun Lee Community Development Association (SLCDA).
The court heard that to support the application, Law had provided four false quotations in relation to production of the event, purported to show that those quotations were issued by the respective companies as stated.
The court also heard that on six occasions between January 2002 and January 2003, Tang produced 19 false quotations to KTDC in support of applications for reimbursement of expenses relating to various activities organized by the Ping Tin Residents Associa tion (PTRA) and FOTY.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the production of six of the above activities organised by SLCDA, PTRA and FOTY was eventually contracted to companies owned or otherwise controlled by Tang.
Had KTDC known of the false quotations, it would not have issued payments totalling $21,240, $72,750 and $27,300 respectively to SLCDA, PTRA and FOTY, the court heard.
The case was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Dunn, assisted by ICAC officer Jennie Sum.