CSD officers guilty of bribery and attempted fraud
2012-5-22
Two officers of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), charged by the ICAC, were today (Tuesday) convicted at the District Court of bribery and attempted fraud in deceiving $530,000 from an inmate and her friend.
Ng Shuk-yi, 36, Assistant Officer II of CSD, was found guilty of a total of four charges –'96 one of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and three of attempted fraud.
Co-defendant Lai Sau-wai, 47, Officer of CSD, was convicted of two charges under Section 4(2)(a) of the POBO –'96 one of public servant soliciting an advantage and one of public servant accepting an advantage.
Deputy Judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned the case until June 8 for sentence, pending background reports. The defendants were remanded in the custody of CSD.
In convicting the duo, the Deputy Judge said he was satisfied that the prosecution had proved beyond all reasonable doubt the charges laid against the defendants and that the evidence provided by the ICAC officers and the immunized witness was reliable.
At the material time, Ng was posted to the Escort and Support Group of CSD responsible for escorting inmates between correctional institutions and courts, while Lai was tasked to supervise inmates at the Hospital Section of the Chi Ma Wan Correctional Ins titution (CMWCI).
The Court heard that on December 21, 2009, Ng escorted an inmate Wu Qiaomei to court for sentence, during which Wu gave the mobile phone number of her boyfriend Lu Guoxiang to Ng for relaying messages. Ng did it accordingly.
Between December 2009 and March 2010, Wu was assigned to do cleansing work in the Hospital Section of CMWCI under the supervision of Lai.
Since December 2009, Ng had used a nickname “Co Co” to communicate with Wu by letter and contacted Lu through mobile phone calls, text messages and e-mails. At the same time, Ng assisted Wu in forwarding letters to Lu in the Mainland by SpeedPost or e-mails.
On December 29, 2009 and in their subsequent contacts, Ng asked Lu how he would “reward” her for her assistance and thereafter solicited branded handbags, diamonds and gold jewellery from Lu.
On three occasions between January 7 and February 6, 2010, Ng further asked Wu and Lu for a total of $530,000, purportedly to pay for medical expenses for her grandmother and herself, and settle her mother’s credit card debts.
Wu and Lu did not accede to Ng’s requests and had stopped communicating with Ng since mid February 2010. Subsequent ICAC investigation revealed that the aforementioned representations of Ng were false.
Around February 22, 2010, Lai started contacting Lu on his mobile phone and undertook to update Lu on Wu’s situation in prison, and relay messages for them.
Lai asked Lu to contact Wu’s business partner for awarding an elevator contract of a property development project in the Mainland to Lai’s friend. In early March 2010, Lu gave the contact information of Lai’s friend to Wu’s business partner accordingly.
Lu also gave a used notebook computer to Lai on March 23, 2010, after Lai indicated that she wanted one, the court was told.
CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kenny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Steven Ng.
Ng Shuk-yi, 36, Assistant Officer II of CSD, was found guilty of a total of four charges –'96 one of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and three of attempted fraud.
Co-defendant Lai Sau-wai, 47, Officer of CSD, was convicted of two charges under Section 4(2)(a) of the POBO –'96 one of public servant soliciting an advantage and one of public servant accepting an advantage.
Deputy Judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned the case until June 8 for sentence, pending background reports. The defendants were remanded in the custody of CSD.
In convicting the duo, the Deputy Judge said he was satisfied that the prosecution had proved beyond all reasonable doubt the charges laid against the defendants and that the evidence provided by the ICAC officers and the immunized witness was reliable.
At the material time, Ng was posted to the Escort and Support Group of CSD responsible for escorting inmates between correctional institutions and courts, while Lai was tasked to supervise inmates at the Hospital Section of the Chi Ma Wan Correctional Ins titution (CMWCI).
The Court heard that on December 21, 2009, Ng escorted an inmate Wu Qiaomei to court for sentence, during which Wu gave the mobile phone number of her boyfriend Lu Guoxiang to Ng for relaying messages. Ng did it accordingly.
Between December 2009 and March 2010, Wu was assigned to do cleansing work in the Hospital Section of CMWCI under the supervision of Lai.
Since December 2009, Ng had used a nickname “Co Co” to communicate with Wu by letter and contacted Lu through mobile phone calls, text messages and e-mails. At the same time, Ng assisted Wu in forwarding letters to Lu in the Mainland by SpeedPost or e-mails.
On December 29, 2009 and in their subsequent contacts, Ng asked Lu how he would “reward” her for her assistance and thereafter solicited branded handbags, diamonds and gold jewellery from Lu.
On three occasions between January 7 and February 6, 2010, Ng further asked Wu and Lu for a total of $530,000, purportedly to pay for medical expenses for her grandmother and herself, and settle her mother’s credit card debts.
Wu and Lu did not accede to Ng’s requests and had stopped communicating with Ng since mid February 2010. Subsequent ICAC investigation revealed that the aforementioned representations of Ng were false.
Around February 22, 2010, Lai started contacting Lu on his mobile phone and undertook to update Lu on Wu’s situation in prison, and relay messages for them.
Lai asked Lu to contact Wu’s business partner for awarding an elevator contract of a property development project in the Mainland to Lai’s friend. In early March 2010, Lu gave the contact information of Lai’s friend to Wu’s business partner accordingly.
Lu also gave a used notebook computer to Lai on March 23, 2010, after Lai indicated that she wanted one, the court was told.
CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kenny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Steven Ng.