Ex-nursery school supervisor gets 8 months for bribery and fraud
2007-10-16
A former supervisor of a nursery school, charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to eight months' imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for soliciting a $60,000 bribe from a subordinate and deceiving tutorial fees totalling over $120,000 from pare nts.
Karen Tsoi Ching-yin, 35, former supervisor of Ng Sheung Lan Memorial Nursery School (NSLMNS), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one of conspiracy to defraud.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Winston Leung Wing-chung reprimanded the defendant for breaching the trust her employer and parents of students placed in her.
The nursery school is run by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (Tung Wah Group).
The court heard that on July 17, 2006, a child care worker of NSLMNS was informed by the defendant that she would be transferred to another nursery school under Tung Wah Group.
After the child care worker had expressed her desire to stay in NSLMNS, the defendant solicited a loan of $60,000 as a reward for helping her remain working at the nursery school.
The management of Tung Wah Group prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to the group's business.
The court also heard that the defendant had conspired with another person to defraud parents of 42 students at NSLMNS between January and September 2006.
She falsely represented to those parents that they were required to pay for English and Putonghua tutorials organised by an education centre, when in fact the fees were wholly borne by the Tung Wah Group.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the fees deceived from the parents by the defendant amounted to $122,100, the court was told.
The Tung Wah Group had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Susanna Ku, assisted by ICAC officer Hanna Chan.
Karen Tsoi Ching-yin, 35, former supervisor of Ng Sheung Lan Memorial Nursery School (NSLMNS), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one of conspiracy to defraud.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Winston Leung Wing-chung reprimanded the defendant for breaching the trust her employer and parents of students placed in her.
The nursery school is run by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (Tung Wah Group).
The court heard that on July 17, 2006, a child care worker of NSLMNS was informed by the defendant that she would be transferred to another nursery school under Tung Wah Group.
After the child care worker had expressed her desire to stay in NSLMNS, the defendant solicited a loan of $60,000 as a reward for helping her remain working at the nursery school.
The management of Tung Wah Group prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to the group's business.
The court also heard that the defendant had conspired with another person to defraud parents of 42 students at NSLMNS between January and September 2006.
She falsely represented to those parents that they were required to pay for English and Putonghua tutorials organised by an education centre, when in fact the fees were wholly borne by the Tung Wah Group.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the fees deceived from the parents by the defendant amounted to $122,100, the court was told.
The Tung Wah Group had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Susanna Ku, assisted by ICAC officer Hanna Chan.