Ex-car testers in court for allegedly forging roadworthiness certificates
2013-7-25
Seven former approved car testers (ACTs) of a car testing centre appeared at the Kowloon City Magistracy today (Thursday) after being charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to forge certificates of roadworthiness (CORs) for private cars and light goods vehicles.
The defendants, who were charged on Tuesday (July 23), were Cheung Man-lee, 53, Chong Chi-tak, 45, Lee Tak-wai, 44, Leung Chun-wai, 32, Cheung Shu-pui, 40, Wong Kam-chung, 57 and Cheung Ling-fai, 62, all former ACTs of Sime Darby Motor Services Limited (S DM).
Cheung Man-lee faced seven counts of conspiracy to forge documents, contrary to Sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, with six of which being joint charges with six co-defendants respectively.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen transferred the case to the District Court for plea on August 13 this year.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance (RTO), all private cars of six years or above and light goods vehicles not exceeding 1.9 tonnes are required to undertake an annual roadworthiness examination at any designated car testing centre (CTC) appointed by the Transport Department (TD).
After passing the roadworthiness examination at a CTC, each vehicle will be issued with a COR by an ACT on behalf of the CTC for the vehicle owner to renew the licence of the vehicle.
At all material times, the defendants were ACTs of SDM stationed at its CTC in Tokwawan, which was appointed by the TD to conduct the roadworthiness examination.
The seven charges alleged Cheung Man-lee together with each of the six co-defendants and another person of having conspired to make false CORs purporting that the vehicles were roadworthy and complied with the requirements of the RTO for the vehicle owner s to use them to induce the TD to accept them as genuine.
The above alleged offences took place between January 2000 and November 2011.
The defendants were each granted cash bail of $5,000. They were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with the prosecution witnesses.
The TD and the management of SDM had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.
The defendants, who were charged on Tuesday (July 23), were Cheung Man-lee, 53, Chong Chi-tak, 45, Lee Tak-wai, 44, Leung Chun-wai, 32, Cheung Shu-pui, 40, Wong Kam-chung, 57 and Cheung Ling-fai, 62, all former ACTs of Sime Darby Motor Services Limited (S DM).
Cheung Man-lee faced seven counts of conspiracy to forge documents, contrary to Sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, with six of which being joint charges with six co-defendants respectively.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen transferred the case to the District Court for plea on August 13 this year.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance (RTO), all private cars of six years or above and light goods vehicles not exceeding 1.9 tonnes are required to undertake an annual roadworthiness examination at any designated car testing centre (CTC) appointed by the Transport Department (TD).
After passing the roadworthiness examination at a CTC, each vehicle will be issued with a COR by an ACT on behalf of the CTC for the vehicle owner to renew the licence of the vehicle.
At all material times, the defendants were ACTs of SDM stationed at its CTC in Tokwawan, which was appointed by the TD to conduct the roadworthiness examination.
The seven charges alleged Cheung Man-lee together with each of the six co-defendants and another person of having conspired to make false CORs purporting that the vehicles were roadworthy and complied with the requirements of the RTO for the vehicle owner s to use them to induce the TD to accept them as genuine.
The above alleged offences took place between January 2000 and November 2011.
The defendants were each granted cash bail of $5,000. They were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with the prosecution witnesses.
The TD and the management of SDM had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.