Ex-senior staff of PolyU sentenced for swindling $150,000 housing allowances
2008-11-18
A former executive of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced at the Kowloon City Magistracy to a community service order of 100 hours for deceiving private tenancy allowances totalling over $150,00 0 from the university.
Dorothy Wong Shun-chun, 54, former Deputy Director of Human Resources of PolyU, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent using a document to deceive her principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that Wong joined the PolyU (formerly known as the Hong Kong Polytechnic) in April 1988 as an assistant academic secretary. At her rank, she was entitled to claim Private Tenancy Allowance (PTA).
On December 19, 1988, Wong applied for PTA for a flat at CityOne, Shatin, and declared on the application form that the said property was not owned by her or her spouse, and that neither she, her spouse nor any of the latter’s relations had a financial interest in it.
Her application was approved by PolyU, which paid her a total of $157,658 between December 1988 and June 1990.
The court heard that the said property was purchased by Wong and her husband Hung Tak-shing in January 1987.
On December 7, 1988, the couple sold the property to a friend. The property was then mortgaged to a bank with both the friend and Wong as borrowers.
On the same day, through the execution of a Declaration of Trust, the friend became the trustee of the couple, who were both named as beneficiary owners of the property.
In addition, the friend also appointed the couple as his attorneys in respect of all matters in connection with the property, the court heard.
On June 21, 1990, as their friend’s lawful attorneys, Wong and her husband signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement in relation to the sale of the said property to a third party.
The court heard that PolyU would not have approved Wong’s application had they known that she in fact owned the said property.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Aggie Lo.
Dorothy Wong Shun-chun, 54, former Deputy Director of Human Resources of PolyU, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent using a document to deceive her principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that Wong joined the PolyU (formerly known as the Hong Kong Polytechnic) in April 1988 as an assistant academic secretary. At her rank, she was entitled to claim Private Tenancy Allowance (PTA).
On December 19, 1988, Wong applied for PTA for a flat at CityOne, Shatin, and declared on the application form that the said property was not owned by her or her spouse, and that neither she, her spouse nor any of the latter’s relations had a financial interest in it.
Her application was approved by PolyU, which paid her a total of $157,658 between December 1988 and June 1990.
The court heard that the said property was purchased by Wong and her husband Hung Tak-shing in January 1987.
On December 7, 1988, the couple sold the property to a friend. The property was then mortgaged to a bank with both the friend and Wong as borrowers.
On the same day, through the execution of a Declaration of Trust, the friend became the trustee of the couple, who were both named as beneficiary owners of the property.
In addition, the friend also appointed the couple as his attorneys in respect of all matters in connection with the property, the court heard.
On June 21, 1990, as their friend’s lawful attorneys, Wong and her husband signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement in relation to the sale of the said property to a third party.
The court heard that PolyU would not have approved Wong’s application had they known that she in fact owned the said property.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Aggie Lo.