Man jailed for bribing CSD officers
2011-1-5
An unemployed man, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to five months’ imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy for offering advantages to two officers of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) for bringing a pair of spectacles into Stanley Prison for a prisoner.
Chung Shing-tai, 25, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of offering an advantage to public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. The prosecution offered no evidence to two similar offences against him.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Henry Mierczak remarked that in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences, he had to mete out a custodial sentence to the defendant.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was serving his jail term at Stanley Prison.
Having been released from the prison, the defendant met a CSD officer at a restaurant in Shamshuipo around July or August 2007.
At the restaurant, the defendant sought help from the CSD officer to bring a pair of spectacles into Stanley Prison for his friend, who was serving a jail term.
In return, the defendant offered to provide the CSD officer with free meals and massage services as a reward. The officer turned down his request.
On another occasion, the defendant and another CSD officer went to Shenzhen, where the defendant asked the officer for assistance and gave him $10,000 in cash as a reward.
The court heard that in January 2009, the defendant was serving another prison term at the prison. He saw his friend wearing a new pair of spectacles.
The defendant then wrote to CSD, complaining that his friend might have obtained the pair of spectacles through improper means.
In his letter, the defendant disclosed that upon his friend’s request, he had offered advantages to CSD officers for their assistance in bringing to his friend a pair of spectacles.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers in February and March 2009, the defendant admitted the bribery offences, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by court prosecutor, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Kam.
Chung Shing-tai, 25, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of offering an advantage to public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. The prosecution offered no evidence to two similar offences against him.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Henry Mierczak remarked that in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences, he had to mete out a custodial sentence to the defendant.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was serving his jail term at Stanley Prison.
Having been released from the prison, the defendant met a CSD officer at a restaurant in Shamshuipo around July or August 2007.
At the restaurant, the defendant sought help from the CSD officer to bring a pair of spectacles into Stanley Prison for his friend, who was serving a jail term.
In return, the defendant offered to provide the CSD officer with free meals and massage services as a reward. The officer turned down his request.
On another occasion, the defendant and another CSD officer went to Shenzhen, where the defendant asked the officer for assistance and gave him $10,000 in cash as a reward.
The court heard that in January 2009, the defendant was serving another prison term at the prison. He saw his friend wearing a new pair of spectacles.
The defendant then wrote to CSD, complaining that his friend might have obtained the pair of spectacles through improper means.
In his letter, the defendant disclosed that upon his friend’s request, he had offered advantages to CSD officers for their assistance in bringing to his friend a pair of spectacles.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers in February and March 2009, the defendant admitted the bribery offences, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by court prosecutor, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Kam.