Ex-LCSD staff jailed for bribery over concert tickets
2011-9-6
Two former staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), charged by the ICAC, were today (Tuesday) each sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for accepting advantages including concert tickets, credit card cash rebates and bonus points in relation to the purchase of concert tickets.
Mui Shuk-ming, 38, and Hilda Wong Hiu-wan, 35, both former box office assistants of LCSD, were also ordered to pay $240 and $258 in restitution to the government respectively.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Ko Wai-hung said custodial sentences had to be imposed on the defendants as their bribery offences, which lasted for a long period of time, were evil and serious.
The deputy magistrate also reprimanded the defendants for abusing their authority to deprive members of the public of a fair ticketing service.
The defendants were earlier each found guilty of one count of public servant accepting advantages, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material times, Mui and Wong were both box office assistants posted to the Central Booking Office (CBO) of LCSD.
Apart from handling free telephone reservation of concert tickets, Mui and Wong were also assigned to work as relief staff at various box offices of LCSD, including the Hong Kong Coliseum (HKC).
In 2005, Mui and Wong came to know a supervisor of a kiosk at HKC who often attended the HKC’s box office for bulk ticket purchases.
Upon the kiosk supervisor’s request, Mui and Wong assisted him in reserving large amounts of concert tickets at CBO.
Besides, Mui and Wong, whilst on duty at various box offices, used credit cards of their close relatives to purchase 1,000-odd concert tickets at a total cost of over $215,000 from the Urban Ticketing System Box Office, a computerised ticketing system of LCSD.
The court heard that between January 2005 and November 2009, Mui accepted concert tickets, over $4,000 in credit card cash rebates and over 485,000 bonus points as rewards for assisting the kiosk supervisor in ticket purchases.
Out of the cash rebates, $240 was earned by Mui on one occasion when her purchase of concert tickets was captured by the closed circuit television system of LCSD.
Mui also used some of the bonus points to redeem $400 worth of shopping coupons, which were recovered by ICAC officers during a search of her home after arrest.
The court also heard that between January 2007 and December 2009, Wong earned over $2,200 in cash rebates and 27,100 bonus points from credit card ticket purchases for the kiosk supervisor.
Out of the cash rebates, $258 was earned by Wong in her purchase of concert tickets on one occasion, the court was told.
LCSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Selwyn So, assisted by ICAC officer Murphy Chan.
Mui Shuk-ming, 38, and Hilda Wong Hiu-wan, 35, both former box office assistants of LCSD, were also ordered to pay $240 and $258 in restitution to the government respectively.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Ko Wai-hung said custodial sentences had to be imposed on the defendants as their bribery offences, which lasted for a long period of time, were evil and serious.
The deputy magistrate also reprimanded the defendants for abusing their authority to deprive members of the public of a fair ticketing service.
The defendants were earlier each found guilty of one count of public servant accepting advantages, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material times, Mui and Wong were both box office assistants posted to the Central Booking Office (CBO) of LCSD.
Apart from handling free telephone reservation of concert tickets, Mui and Wong were also assigned to work as relief staff at various box offices of LCSD, including the Hong Kong Coliseum (HKC).
In 2005, Mui and Wong came to know a supervisor of a kiosk at HKC who often attended the HKC’s box office for bulk ticket purchases.
Upon the kiosk supervisor’s request, Mui and Wong assisted him in reserving large amounts of concert tickets at CBO.
Besides, Mui and Wong, whilst on duty at various box offices, used credit cards of their close relatives to purchase 1,000-odd concert tickets at a total cost of over $215,000 from the Urban Ticketing System Box Office, a computerised ticketing system of LCSD.
The court heard that between January 2005 and November 2009, Mui accepted concert tickets, over $4,000 in credit card cash rebates and over 485,000 bonus points as rewards for assisting the kiosk supervisor in ticket purchases.
Out of the cash rebates, $240 was earned by Mui on one occasion when her purchase of concert tickets was captured by the closed circuit television system of LCSD.
Mui also used some of the bonus points to redeem $400 worth of shopping coupons, which were recovered by ICAC officers during a search of her home after arrest.
The court also heard that between January 2007 and December 2009, Wong earned over $2,200 in cash rebates and 27,100 bonus points from credit card ticket purchases for the kiosk supervisor.
Out of the cash rebates, $258 was earned by Wong in her purchase of concert tickets on one occasion, the court was told.
LCSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Selwyn So, assisted by ICAC officer Murphy Chan.