Duo face court for alleged event subsidies fraud
2011-1-17
Two senior staff of the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power (HKRP) appeared in Kowloon City Magistracy today (Monday) after being charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in false claims of event subsidies from the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the Di strict Councils (DCs).
Ng Man-hei, 47, and Ho Kwan-lok, 26, respectively former Executive Director and Senior Training and Employment Officer of the HKRP, pleaded not guilty to five joint charges of fraud.
Ng also denied one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned the case until March 7 for a pre-trial review. The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
The HKRP, a registered charitable organisation, promotes the interests and well-being of its members, mainly disabled persons, by regularly organising civic activities sponsored by the LWB or the DCs.
The fraud charges alleged that between February and March 2009, Ng and Ho falsely represented to the LWB, Tsuen Wan, Yau Tsim Mong and Central and Western DCs that i Shining Lives (ISL), a service provider in control by Ng, had provided services and charg ed for them, the details of which were set out in nine invoices submitted thereof.
It was alleged that Ng and Ho, with intent to defraud, induced the LWB, Tsuen Wan, Yau Tsim Mong and Central and Western DCs to approve the claims for subsidies, which resulted in benefit to ISL.
The event subsidies allegedly deceived by Ng and Ho amounted to over $15,000.
The remaining charge alleged Ng of having dealt with a cheque for $7,900 in favour of ISL in April 2009, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the money represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Dickson Liang.
Ng Man-hei, 47, and Ho Kwan-lok, 26, respectively former Executive Director and Senior Training and Employment Officer of the HKRP, pleaded not guilty to five joint charges of fraud.
Ng also denied one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned the case until March 7 for a pre-trial review. The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
The HKRP, a registered charitable organisation, promotes the interests and well-being of its members, mainly disabled persons, by regularly organising civic activities sponsored by the LWB or the DCs.
The fraud charges alleged that between February and March 2009, Ng and Ho falsely represented to the LWB, Tsuen Wan, Yau Tsim Mong and Central and Western DCs that i Shining Lives (ISL), a service provider in control by Ng, had provided services and charg ed for them, the details of which were set out in nine invoices submitted thereof.
It was alleged that Ng and Ho, with intent to defraud, induced the LWB, Tsuen Wan, Yau Tsim Mong and Central and Western DCs to approve the claims for subsidies, which resulted in benefit to ISL.
The event subsidies allegedly deceived by Ng and Ho amounted to over $15,000.
The remaining charge alleged Ng of having dealt with a cheque for $7,900 in favour of ISL in April 2009, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the money represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Dickson Liang.