Clerical Officer of FEHD admits soliciting and accepting over $100,000 unauthorised loans
2018-10-16
A Clerical Officer of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Eastern Magistracy today (October 16) that he had solicited and accepted unauthorised loans of over $100,000 from three subordinates.
Hui Tze-keung, 51, pleaded guilty to a total of three charges – two of prescribed officer soliciting and accepting an advantage and one of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Two other charges of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage against him were withdrawn.
Magistrate Ms Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to November 7 for sentence, pending a community service order report, and granted the defendant bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a Clerical Officer of the FEHD posted to the Branch Administration Unit of its Private Columbaria Affairs Office.
On February 28, 2017, the defendant solicited a loan of $50,000 from his subordinate, an Assistant Clerical Officer (ACO), by stating that he was in urgent need of money for a surgical operation for his daughter.
In view of this situation, the ACO agreed to lend him the money. The defendant repaid the ACO three days later.
The court heard that on March 30, 2017, the defendant solicited a loan of $23,000 from another ACO under his supervision by claiming that he was in urgent need of money to settle the anaesthesia fee for his daughter’s operation, otherwise the operation could not proceed.
The ACO agreed to lend him the money. The defendant repaid the loan to the ACO later on the same day.
The court heard that on May 29, 2017, the defendant telephoned a General Clerk under his supervision, saying that his daughter was admitted to hospital.
The defendant then asked the General Clerk for a loan of $30,000, but the General Clerk declined his request.
The FEHD confirmed that the defendant had never sought the special permission as stipulated in the Acceptance of Advantages (Chief Executive’s Permission) Notice nor been granted any approval for him to solicit or accept any loan from his subordinates.
The FEHD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Michael Chu.
Hui Tze-keung, 51, pleaded guilty to a total of three charges – two of prescribed officer soliciting and accepting an advantage and one of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Two other charges of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage against him were withdrawn.
Magistrate Ms Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to November 7 for sentence, pending a community service order report, and granted the defendant bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a Clerical Officer of the FEHD posted to the Branch Administration Unit of its Private Columbaria Affairs Office.
On February 28, 2017, the defendant solicited a loan of $50,000 from his subordinate, an Assistant Clerical Officer (ACO), by stating that he was in urgent need of money for a surgical operation for his daughter.
In view of this situation, the ACO agreed to lend him the money. The defendant repaid the ACO three days later.
The court heard that on March 30, 2017, the defendant solicited a loan of $23,000 from another ACO under his supervision by claiming that he was in urgent need of money to settle the anaesthesia fee for his daughter’s operation, otherwise the operation could not proceed.
The ACO agreed to lend him the money. The defendant repaid the loan to the ACO later on the same day.
The court heard that on May 29, 2017, the defendant telephoned a General Clerk under his supervision, saying that his daughter was admitted to hospital.
The defendant then asked the General Clerk for a loan of $30,000, but the General Clerk declined his request.
The FEHD confirmed that the defendant had never sought the special permission as stipulated in the Acceptance of Advantages (Chief Executive’s Permission) Notice nor been granted any approval for him to solicit or accept any loan from his subordinates.
The FEHD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Michael Chu.