Ex-foreman of contractor sentenced for fraud over MTR cleaners’ false attendance
2020-1-13
A former foreman of a cleaning service contractor, charged by the ICAC, was today (January 13) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistracy for defrauding the MTR Corporation Limited (MTR Corporation) of service payment by falsifying attendance records of cleaners.
Ng Siu-ping, 56, former foreman of Winson Cleaning Service Company Limited (Winson), was ordered by Magistrate Ms Winnie Lau Yee-wan to perform 140 hours of community service.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
In sentencing, the magistrate remarked that the defendant committed the offence out of foolishness. She said a non-custodial sentence was meted out, having considered that the case involved an isolated incident and that the defendant had no personal gain in it.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, Winson was engaged by the MTR Corporation to provide cleaning service at Nam Cheong Station. Winson was required to provide one foreman and 10 cleaners to work at the station for each night shift. The defendant was Winson’s foreman posted to the station.
Should Winson fail to provide sufficient manpower, its cleaning service payments would be deducted and future contracts with the MTR Corporation could be affected.
The defendant and all cleaners were required to sign on a monthly attendance book when they reported on and off duty. The defendant was also required to submit to the MTR Corporation a declaration form which listed out the names of cleaners on duty on each night shift.
The court heard that the name and signature of a cleaner who ceased to work at the station since early March 2017 continued to appear on the monthly attendance books for eight specific nights between mid-March and late April 2017.
The name and signature of another cleaner who was not on duty on one specific night also appeared on the attendance book for March.
Meanwhile, the MTR Corporation received the corresponding declarations submitted by the defendant indicating that the two cleaners were on duty on the eight dates specified.
Based on the information stated on the monthly attendance books and the declaration forms, the MTR Corporation had not discovered any shortfall of cleaners on those dates. Relevant wages of the two cleaners totalling $3,375 were hence not deducted from Winson’s cleaning service payment.
The MTR Corporation had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Winnie Fung.
Ng Siu-ping, 56, former foreman of Winson Cleaning Service Company Limited (Winson), was ordered by Magistrate Ms Winnie Lau Yee-wan to perform 140 hours of community service.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
In sentencing, the magistrate remarked that the defendant committed the offence out of foolishness. She said a non-custodial sentence was meted out, having considered that the case involved an isolated incident and that the defendant had no personal gain in it.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, Winson was engaged by the MTR Corporation to provide cleaning service at Nam Cheong Station. Winson was required to provide one foreman and 10 cleaners to work at the station for each night shift. The defendant was Winson’s foreman posted to the station.
Should Winson fail to provide sufficient manpower, its cleaning service payments would be deducted and future contracts with the MTR Corporation could be affected.
The defendant and all cleaners were required to sign on a monthly attendance book when they reported on and off duty. The defendant was also required to submit to the MTR Corporation a declaration form which listed out the names of cleaners on duty on each night shift.
The court heard that the name and signature of a cleaner who ceased to work at the station since early March 2017 continued to appear on the monthly attendance books for eight specific nights between mid-March and late April 2017.
The name and signature of another cleaner who was not on duty on one specific night also appeared on the attendance book for March.
Meanwhile, the MTR Corporation received the corresponding declarations submitted by the defendant indicating that the two cleaners were on duty on the eight dates specified.
Based on the information stated on the monthly attendance books and the declaration forms, the MTR Corporation had not discovered any shortfall of cleaners on those dates. Relevant wages of the two cleaners totalling $3,375 were hence not deducted from Winson’s cleaning service payment.
The MTR Corporation had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Winnie Fung.