Three months’ jail for possessing false ICAC warrant card
2014-10-21
A man, charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for possessing a false ICAC warrant card.
Wang Xiao, 24, financial analyst, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a false instrument, contrary to Section 75(2) of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai remarked that she did not accept the defendant’s argument that the false ICAC warrant card was his toy and personal collectable.
The magistrate added that in view of the seriousness of the offence committed by the defendant, a custodial sentence was imposed on him. The starting point of four and a half months in jail was reduced to three months after his guilty plea and clear reco rd were taken into account.
The case arose from a referral from the Police. Subsequent ICAC enquiries uncovered the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant came to Hong Kong with a working visa for his employment as a financial analyst with a finance company in Hong Kong.
On February 13, 2014, the defendant took a taxi from Central to Tin Hau and left a cardholder on the back seat. The cardholder was subsequently handed over to the Police by the taxi driver.
Upon inspection, the Police discovered that the cardholder contained a plastic card with “Independent Commission Against Corruption warrant card”, “Name Wong Hiu, Sean” and “Post Senior Ombudsman” printed on the front cover.
In addition, the plastic card also bore a photograph of the defendant and a logo of the ICAC.
The cardholder was then passed to the ICAC for verification, which confirmed that the purported warrant card was in fact a false instrument.
The court heard that there was no ICAC officer named “Wong Hiu, Sean” and the ICAC had never issued a warrant card to the said “Wong Hiu, Sean”.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that he had possessed the false ICAC warrant card and carried it on a daily basis until he accidentally left it together with his cardholder in the taxi.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Jonathan Lin, assisted by ICAC officer Ken Wong.
Wang Xiao, 24, financial analyst, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a false instrument, contrary to Section 75(2) of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Ms Bina Chainrai remarked that she did not accept the defendant’s argument that the false ICAC warrant card was his toy and personal collectable.
The magistrate added that in view of the seriousness of the offence committed by the defendant, a custodial sentence was imposed on him. The starting point of four and a half months in jail was reduced to three months after his guilty plea and clear reco rd were taken into account.
The case arose from a referral from the Police. Subsequent ICAC enquiries uncovered the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant came to Hong Kong with a working visa for his employment as a financial analyst with a finance company in Hong Kong.
On February 13, 2014, the defendant took a taxi from Central to Tin Hau and left a cardholder on the back seat. The cardholder was subsequently handed over to the Police by the taxi driver.
Upon inspection, the Police discovered that the cardholder contained a plastic card with “Independent Commission Against Corruption warrant card”, “Name Wong Hiu, Sean” and “Post Senior Ombudsman” printed on the front cover.
In addition, the plastic card also bore a photograph of the defendant and a logo of the ICAC.
The cardholder was then passed to the ICAC for verification, which confirmed that the purported warrant card was in fact a false instrument.
The court heard that there was no ICAC officer named “Wong Hiu, Sean” and the ICAC had never issued a warrant card to the said “Wong Hiu, Sean”.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that he had possessed the false ICAC warrant card and carried it on a daily basis until he accidentally left it together with his cardholder in the taxi.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Jonathan Lin, assisted by ICAC officer Ken Wong.