Man charged for allegedly defrauding government education subsidies
2009-2-23
A man has been charged by the ICAC for alleged conspiracy to defraud the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) of education subsidies totalling $22,500.
Lai Kam-wah, 38, faces two charges of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA and an alternative charge of dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence.
The defendant will appear in Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am on Wednesday (February 25) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the time of the alleged offences, the defendant was an employee of a gas station.
One of the conspiracy charges alleges that between May 1 and August 17, 2007, the defendant conspired with other persons to defraud the SFAA by dishonestly submitting documents to the SFAA for an application for a loan under the Non-means Tested Loan Sche me.
The defendant is alleged to have falsely represented to the SFAA that he would attend an investment and financial planning course held by Hong Kong St. Perth College, and that he would repay the loan.
As a result of the alleged false representation, the SFAA was caused to approve the loan at $12,500.
The other conspiracy charge alleges that between May 1 and October 11, 2007, the defendant conspired with other persons to defraud the SFAA by submitting documents to the SFAA for an application for Continuing Education Fund subsidy.
The defendant is alleged to have falsely represented to the SFAA that he had successfully passed the assessment of the investment and financial planning course with an attendance rate of 70%, and caused the SFAA to pay $10,000 to him.
The remaining alternative charge alleges the defendant of dealing with the sum of $10,000 on October 11, 2007, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the sum, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of indictable offences.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Wednesday.
Lai Kam-wah, 38, faces two charges of conspiracy to defraud the SFAA and an alternative charge of dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence.
The defendant will appear in Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am on Wednesday (February 25) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the time of the alleged offences, the defendant was an employee of a gas station.
One of the conspiracy charges alleges that between May 1 and August 17, 2007, the defendant conspired with other persons to defraud the SFAA by dishonestly submitting documents to the SFAA for an application for a loan under the Non-means Tested Loan Sche me.
The defendant is alleged to have falsely represented to the SFAA that he would attend an investment and financial planning course held by Hong Kong St. Perth College, and that he would repay the loan.
As a result of the alleged false representation, the SFAA was caused to approve the loan at $12,500.
The other conspiracy charge alleges that between May 1 and October 11, 2007, the defendant conspired with other persons to defraud the SFAA by submitting documents to the SFAA for an application for Continuing Education Fund subsidy.
The defendant is alleged to have falsely represented to the SFAA that he had successfully passed the assessment of the investment and financial planning course with an attendance rate of 70%, and caused the SFAA to pay $10,000 to him.
The remaining alternative charge alleges the defendant of dealing with the sum of $10,000 on October 11, 2007, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the sum, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of indictable offences.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Wednesday.