A former part-time chef of a lunchbox supplier for local schools, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Shatin Magistracy today (November 20) that he had conspired with a head chef to defraud the company of wages totalling about $7,000 by falsifying his attendance record.

Lo Tsan-pang, 61, former part-time chef of Macy’s Food and Services Limited (MFS), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.

Deputy Magistrate Mr Tsang Chung-yiu adjourned the case to January 21 next year for sentence, and granted the defendant bail.

The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.

The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a part-time chef working at a central kitchen of MFS, which supplied lunchboxes to local schools. A head chef was responsible for overseeing the operation of the kitchen and arranging work schedule for chefs, including the defendant.

Timecards were used to record attendance of chefs, who did not have any fixed working hours. Wages of part-time chefs were calculated on a daily basis.

After the defendant told the head chef that he wanted to quit the job due to the low wage, the head chef suggested to punch his timecard for him on two of his rest days every month.

The court heard that the defendant agreed to the arrangement and received extra wages totalling about $7,000 between March and August 2017.

MFS had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Pius Chan.