Woman charged with bribing public servants over niche application
2015-3-31
A woman has been charged by the ICAC with offering over $23,000 in bribes to two staff members of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Immigration Department (ImmD), and using a false letter of identity in her application for a niche for her late grandmother.
Anita Lo Wai-yee, 70, who was charged yesterday (Monday), faces three charges – two of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one of using a false instrument, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear at the Kowloon City Magistracy tomorrow (Wednesday) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was applying to the FEHD for a niche for her deceased grandmother. To support her application, the defendant was required to apply to the ImmD for a documentary proof of the deceased’s identity as a Hong Kong resident.
One of the charges alleges that on August 25, 2014, the defendant offered a cheque in the sum of $3,850 to a Clerical Officer of the ImmD as a reward for processing her application for a Certificate of Registered Particulars in respect of her deceased grandmother.
Another charge alleges that on August 27, 2014, the defendant offered another cheque in the sum of $19,450 to an Assistant Venue Manager of the FEHD as a reward for processing her application for a niche for her deceased grandmother.
The remaining charge alleges that on August 30, 2014, the defendant used a letter, which she knew to be false, purportedly issued by the ImmD to the effect that her grandmother was the holder of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, with the intention of inducing the Assistant Venue Manager of the FEHD to accept it as genuine.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the FEHD. During its investigation into the complaint, the ICAC had received full assistance from the FEHD and the ImmD.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance tomorrow.
Anita Lo Wai-yee, 70, who was charged yesterday (Monday), faces three charges – two of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one of using a false instrument, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear at the Kowloon City Magistracy tomorrow (Wednesday) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was applying to the FEHD for a niche for her deceased grandmother. To support her application, the defendant was required to apply to the ImmD for a documentary proof of the deceased’s identity as a Hong Kong resident.
One of the charges alleges that on August 25, 2014, the defendant offered a cheque in the sum of $3,850 to a Clerical Officer of the ImmD as a reward for processing her application for a Certificate of Registered Particulars in respect of her deceased grandmother.
Another charge alleges that on August 27, 2014, the defendant offered another cheque in the sum of $19,450 to an Assistant Venue Manager of the FEHD as a reward for processing her application for a niche for her deceased grandmother.
The remaining charge alleges that on August 30, 2014, the defendant used a letter, which she knew to be false, purportedly issued by the ImmD to the effect that her grandmother was the holder of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, with the intention of inducing the Assistant Venue Manager of the FEHD to accept it as genuine.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the FEHD. During its investigation into the complaint, the ICAC had received full assistance from the FEHD and the ImmD.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance tomorrow.