A former contract assistant clerk of the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA), charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to a community service order at the Kowloon City Magistracy for using bogus sick leave certificates to deceive her empl oyer into granting her 29 days of paid sick leave.

Chan Chui-yan, 29, had earlier pleaded guilty to 21 counts of agent using document with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

Magistrate Mr Peter Law ordered Chan to perform 160 hours of community service, and to pay $6,900 in restitution to SFAA.

The case originated from a corruption complaint. Subsequent enquiries revealed the said offences.

The court heard that Chan was employed as a contract staff with SFAA between 2002 and 2007.

According to the employment contract, Chan was entitled to three days fully paid sick leave for each calendar month, but the sick leave must be supported by valid medical certificates or salary would be deducted.

The court heard that between September 18, 2003 and March 28, 2006, Chan had submitted a total of 21 sick leave certificates, purportedly issued by a doctor, to apply for 29 days of paid sick leave.

SFAA then granted her salary totalling $6,964 for the sick leave.

Chan admitted that on September 16, 2003, she had consulted a doctor who issued a sick leave certificate for one-day sick leave.

As she intended to have two days of sick leave, Chan then used a computer at home to make a false sick leave certificate.

Chan again used the same method to make another false sick leave certificate dated September 29, 2003.

The court further heard that on November 3, 2003, without the doctor’s knowledge and permission, Chan ordered from a stamp-making stall a stamp of the doctor’s office and used it on the remaining 19 false sick leave certificates.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Gary Chan.