A senior lecturer of the Community College of City University of Hong Kong (CityU), charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced at District Court for her role in a conspiracy to deceive private tenancy allowances (PTA) totalling about $2.29 million from the university.

Cheng Po-wah, 53, a senior lecturer of the Community College of CityU, was jailed for nine months, suspended for two years, by Judge Susana D'Almada Remedios.

Cheng today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for an agent to use documents with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Sections 159A and 159C of the Crimes Ordinance.

Co-defendant Hung Hie-yiin, 46, a housewife, had earlier pleaded guilty to a similar charge. She received the same jail term as Cheng.

The court heard that between December 19, 1996 and February 15, 2005, the defendants had conspired together for Cheng to submit a total of five Applications for Approval for PTA in relation to a leased property in City One Shatin, New Territories, with in tent to deceive CityU.

Cheng had falsely claimed in those applications that she did not have any direct or indirect financial interest in the leased property.

The court heard that the purchase of the property concerned was in fact financed by Cheng.

With the false representations, Cheng had fraudulently obtained from CityU PTA allowances amounting to about $2,29 million.

Had CityU learnt that Cheng had a financial interest in the property, it would not have approved any of her applications.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Marco Li, assisted by ICAC officer Winnie Wong.