Man jailed for making false report to ICAC officer
2007-11-26
An unemployed man, charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for making a false report to an ICAC officer against two customs officers for alleged corruption.
Hung Chi-kwan, 36, was earlier found guilty of one count of making a false report to an ICAC officer, contrary to Section 13B(a) of the ICAC Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr William Ng reprimanded the defendant for showing no remorse.
The magistrate added that a jail sentence had to be meted out to serve as a deterrent.
The court heard that on June 1, 2006, the defendant rang up an ICAC officer, claiming that he had got something in which the Commission was interested.
About 45 minutes later, the defendant called the ICAC officer again, alleging that he had been intercepted and searched by two officers of the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) at the Lo Wu Control Point upon his return from the Mainland.
The defendant also alleged that he was interrogated by the C&E officers about the duty-not-paid cigarettes found on him.
He further alleged that he had given $1,500 cash to one of the C&E officers, who then let him go.
Later on the same day, the defendant was interviewed under caution by the ICAC for allegedly offering advantages to public servants.
ICAC investigations revealed that the two C&E officers had never solicited or accepted any money from the defendant, and that the defendant had made a false report to the ICAC, the court was told.
An ICAC spokesman warned that it was a serious offence to make false reports to the ICAC and abuse the Commission’s resources.
“A person will be prosecuted if he is found to have knowingly given false information or made a false report to the ICAC. If convicted, he may face a fine of $20,000 and an imprisonment of one year,” the spokesman said.
“However, any person who reports suspected corruption to the ICAC in good faith should not be deterred or fear prosecution even if the allegation may turn out to be unsubstantiated,” the spokesman said.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.
Hung Chi-kwan, 36, was earlier found guilty of one count of making a false report to an ICAC officer, contrary to Section 13B(a) of the ICAC Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr William Ng reprimanded the defendant for showing no remorse.
The magistrate added that a jail sentence had to be meted out to serve as a deterrent.
The court heard that on June 1, 2006, the defendant rang up an ICAC officer, claiming that he had got something in which the Commission was interested.
About 45 minutes later, the defendant called the ICAC officer again, alleging that he had been intercepted and searched by two officers of the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) at the Lo Wu Control Point upon his return from the Mainland.
The defendant also alleged that he was interrogated by the C&E officers about the duty-not-paid cigarettes found on him.
He further alleged that he had given $1,500 cash to one of the C&E officers, who then let him go.
Later on the same day, the defendant was interviewed under caution by the ICAC for allegedly offering advantages to public servants.
ICAC investigations revealed that the two C&E officers had never solicited or accepted any money from the defendant, and that the defendant had made a false report to the ICAC, the court was told.
An ICAC spokesman warned that it was a serious offence to make false reports to the ICAC and abuse the Commission’s resources.
“A person will be prosecuted if he is found to have knowingly given false information or made a false report to the ICAC. If convicted, he may face a fine of $20,000 and an imprisonment of one year,” the spokesman said.
“However, any person who reports suspected corruption to the ICAC in good faith should not be deterred or fear prosecution even if the allegation may turn out to be unsubstantiated,” the spokesman said.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.