Candidate of Rural Representative Election charged for alleged role in false nomination scam
2019-5-10
A candidate of the 2019 Rural Representative Election (Resident Representative) has been charged by the ICAC today (May 10) with falsely declaring his principal residential address and that of three subscribers in a nomination form and using the false nomination form containing forged signatures of two of the subscribers.
Lau Kwok-wah, 61, faces two charges – one of making a false statement in an election related document, contrary to Section 90(1)(a) of the Electoral Procedure (Rural Representative Election) Regulation; and one of using a false instrument, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistracy next Tuesday (May 14) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was the Resident Representative of Tai Street (West), a village in Sai Kung.
According to the Rural Representative Election Ordinance, a person who is eligible to be nominated as a candidate of a village must be a resident of that village and has been a resident of that village for six years immediately preceding the nomination. Any person who seeks nomination as a candidate of a village must be subscribed by at least five other persons who are electors of that village.
The Rural Representative Election (Resident Representative) of Tai Street (West) under the Sai Kung Rural Committee was held on January 13, 2019, with its nomination period running from November 9 to 22, 2018.
On November 16, 2018, the defendant submitted his nomination form for the election to the office of the Home Affairs Department (HAD) in Hang Hau, but he withdrew his nomination on November 22, 2018.
One of the charges alleges that on or about November 15, 2018, the defendant made false statements, namely the principal residential addresses of himself and three subscribers in his nomination form for the election.
The other charge alleges that on November 16, 2018, the defendant used the false nomination form purportedly signed by two of those subscribers, with the intention of inducing an officer of the HAD to accept it as genuine, and by reason of so accepting it to do or not to do some act to his own or any other person’s prejudice.
The HAD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance next Tuesday.
Lau Kwok-wah, 61, faces two charges – one of making a false statement in an election related document, contrary to Section 90(1)(a) of the Electoral Procedure (Rural Representative Election) Regulation; and one of using a false instrument, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistracy next Tuesday (May 14) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was the Resident Representative of Tai Street (West), a village in Sai Kung.
According to the Rural Representative Election Ordinance, a person who is eligible to be nominated as a candidate of a village must be a resident of that village and has been a resident of that village for six years immediately preceding the nomination. Any person who seeks nomination as a candidate of a village must be subscribed by at least five other persons who are electors of that village.
The Rural Representative Election (Resident Representative) of Tai Street (West) under the Sai Kung Rural Committee was held on January 13, 2019, with its nomination period running from November 9 to 22, 2018.
On November 16, 2018, the defendant submitted his nomination form for the election to the office of the Home Affairs Department (HAD) in Hang Hau, but he withdrew his nomination on November 22, 2018.
One of the charges alleges that on or about November 15, 2018, the defendant made false statements, namely the principal residential addresses of himself and three subscribers in his nomination form for the election.
The other charge alleges that on November 16, 2018, the defendant used the false nomination form purportedly signed by two of those subscribers, with the intention of inducing an officer of the HAD to accept it as genuine, and by reason of so accepting it to do or not to do some act to his own or any other person’s prejudice.
The HAD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance next Tuesday.