Ex-teacher admits deceiving $700,000 from parents over admission applications
2008-9-2
A former teacher of a primary school, charged by the ICAC, today (Tuesday) admitted at the District Court that she had deceived over $700,000 from a number of parents in relation to applications for admission of their children to the school.
Jacqueline Lau Fung-yan, 37, a former teacher of Diocesan Preparatory School, pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud and two of attempted fraud.
Deputy Judge Rickie Chan Kam-cheong adjourned the case until September 23, 2008 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was the head of admissions in the school responsible for handling applications and enquiries from parents.
On four occasions between July 13 and 17 last year, the defendant falsely represented to a parent that he could show his sincerity by making payments to the school; and that the payments would be refunded to him irrespective of the outcome of the applicat ion for admission of his son to the school. With intent to defraud, the defendant induced the parent to give her a total of $580,000.
The defendant also made similar false representations to two other parents, inducing them to pay her $20,000 and $30,000 respectively.
The court also heard that one of the above parents became suspicious when the defendant attempted to solicit another $70,000 from him. The matter was then reported to the ICAC.
On July 20 last year, the defendant met the parent at a restaurant. The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers after accepting the $70,000 marked money from the parent.
Two days before the arrest, the defendant also attempted to induce another parent to give her a sum of money for the same reason, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Ada Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Phoebe Tsang.
Jacqueline Lau Fung-yan, 37, a former teacher of Diocesan Preparatory School, pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud and two of attempted fraud.
Deputy Judge Rickie Chan Kam-cheong adjourned the case until September 23, 2008 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was the head of admissions in the school responsible for handling applications and enquiries from parents.
On four occasions between July 13 and 17 last year, the defendant falsely represented to a parent that he could show his sincerity by making payments to the school; and that the payments would be refunded to him irrespective of the outcome of the applicat ion for admission of his son to the school. With intent to defraud, the defendant induced the parent to give her a total of $580,000.
The defendant also made similar false representations to two other parents, inducing them to pay her $20,000 and $30,000 respectively.
The court also heard that one of the above parents became suspicious when the defendant attempted to solicit another $70,000 from him. The matter was then reported to the ICAC.
On July 20 last year, the defendant met the parent at a restaurant. The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers after accepting the $70,000 marked money from the parent.
Two days before the arrest, the defendant also attempted to induce another parent to give her a sum of money for the same reason, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Ada Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Phoebe Tsang.