Ex-associate professor of CityU and three others charged for alleged $6m fraud
2011-3-30
A former associate professor of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and three other persons have been charged by the ICAC today (Wednesday) for their alleged roles in a $6 million fraud in relation to the provision of information technology consultan cy and training services.
The defendants are Hung Sheung-lun, 64, former associate professor of CityU; Chow Hiu-keung, 41, former senior project manager of CityU Professional Services Limited (CPS); Tien Choon-fong, 52, director of Tech Alliance Limited (TAL); and Irene Fung Wai-y ee, 56, wife of Hung.
The defendants face a total of 10 charges –'96 six counts of fraud, one of conspiracy to defraud, one of conspiracy to commit forgery, one of using a copy of false instrument, and one of forgery.
They will appear at Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am on Friday (April 1) for mention, pending transfer to the District Court.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, Hung was an associate professor of the Department of Computer Science of CityU. Hung set up the Information Technology Service Group (ITSG) to engage in outside practice –'96 mainly the provision of information technology consultancy and training services. The administration of the outside practice was handled by CPS, a wholly owned company of CityU.
One of the fraud charges alleges that Hung falsely represented to CPS that Fung had provided consultancy and training services to the ITSG, and with intent to defraud, induced CPS to make payments totalling over $1.9 million in favour of Fung.
Four other fraud charges allege Chow of having falsely representing to CPS that four relatives had provided services to the ITSG, and with intent to defraud, induced CPS to make payments totalling over $2.4 million.
Another fraud charge alleges Tien of having falsely represented to CPS that a company had provided services to the ITSG, and with intent to defraud, induced CPS to make payments totalling over $650,000 in favour of the company.
Hung and Tien face a joint charge, which alleges that they conspired together to defraud CPS by falsely representing to CPS that TAL had provided services to the ITSG, and failing to disclose to CPS that TAL was beneficially owned and controlled by Hung.
As a result, CPS was allegedly caused to make payments totalling over $1.6 million to TAL.
Hung and Tien also face a joint charge of conspiracy to commit forgery, which alleged them of having conspired together to make false contracts between Fung and various companies and persons in the mainland.
Hung is also alleged to have used copies of the above false contracts. The remaining charge alleges Fung of having made two of the above false contracts.
The above alleged offences took place between June 1999 and 2006.
CityU had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Friday.
The defendants are Hung Sheung-lun, 64, former associate professor of CityU; Chow Hiu-keung, 41, former senior project manager of CityU Professional Services Limited (CPS); Tien Choon-fong, 52, director of Tech Alliance Limited (TAL); and Irene Fung Wai-y ee, 56, wife of Hung.
The defendants face a total of 10 charges –'96 six counts of fraud, one of conspiracy to defraud, one of conspiracy to commit forgery, one of using a copy of false instrument, and one of forgery.
They will appear at Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am on Friday (April 1) for mention, pending transfer to the District Court.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, Hung was an associate professor of the Department of Computer Science of CityU. Hung set up the Information Technology Service Group (ITSG) to engage in outside practice –'96 mainly the provision of information technology consultancy and training services. The administration of the outside practice was handled by CPS, a wholly owned company of CityU.
One of the fraud charges alleges that Hung falsely represented to CPS that Fung had provided consultancy and training services to the ITSG, and with intent to defraud, induced CPS to make payments totalling over $1.9 million in favour of Fung.
Four other fraud charges allege Chow of having falsely representing to CPS that four relatives had provided services to the ITSG, and with intent to defraud, induced CPS to make payments totalling over $2.4 million.
Another fraud charge alleges Tien of having falsely represented to CPS that a company had provided services to the ITSG, and with intent to defraud, induced CPS to make payments totalling over $650,000 in favour of the company.
Hung and Tien face a joint charge, which alleges that they conspired together to defraud CPS by falsely representing to CPS that TAL had provided services to the ITSG, and failing to disclose to CPS that TAL was beneficially owned and controlled by Hung.
As a result, CPS was allegedly caused to make payments totalling over $1.6 million to TAL.
Hung and Tien also face a joint charge of conspiracy to commit forgery, which alleged them of having conspired together to make false contracts between Fung and various companies and persons in the mainland.
Hung is also alleged to have used copies of the above false contracts. The remaining charge alleges Fung of having made two of the above false contracts.
The above alleged offences took place between June 1999 and 2006.
CityU had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Friday.