CSD Instructor gets 15 months for bribery over $90,000 loans
2020-1-24
An Instructor of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), charged by the ICAC, was today (January 24) sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy after being convicted of accepting four loans totalling $90,000 from two inmates for remaining favourably disposed to them.
Chu Ka-ho, 41, Instructor of the CSD, was found guilty by Deputy Magistrate Mr Wong Heung-yung of four charges – one of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and three of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the POBO.
The court heard that at the material time, Chu was an Instructor of the CSD posted to the kitchen workshop of Stanley Prison. He was responsible for assigning cooking tasks to inmates, checking quality of the food they made and monitoring their general conduct.
Kong Tat-lung, an inmate of Stanley Prison, was assigned to work in the kitchen workshop under Chu’s direct supervision to make daily meals served to inmates.
In July 2017, Kong told his mother during a prison visit that his friend needed money and that a person would contact her to make arrangements. Three days later, Chu contacted Kong’s mother by phone. A cash deposit of $40,000 was made into a bank account of Chu’s wife shortly afterwards.
The court also heard that on January 16, February 14 and March 7, 2018, three loans of $10,000, $30,000 and $10,000 were respectively transferred into the bank account of Chu’s wife.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers in May 2018, Chu admitted that he had disclosed his financial difficulty to another inmate posted to the kitchen workshop under his direct supervision. The inmate made money-lending arrangements for the abovementioned $50,000.
Co-defendant Kong Tat-lung, 31, earlier pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistracy to one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage jointly charged with Chu. Kong had his case adjourned to March 27 for sentence.
The CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Diana Cheung, assisted by ICAC officers Caroline Yu and Kevin Lo.
Chu Ka-ho, 41, Instructor of the CSD, was found guilty by Deputy Magistrate Mr Wong Heung-yung of four charges – one of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and three of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the POBO.
The court heard that at the material time, Chu was an Instructor of the CSD posted to the kitchen workshop of Stanley Prison. He was responsible for assigning cooking tasks to inmates, checking quality of the food they made and monitoring their general conduct.
Kong Tat-lung, an inmate of Stanley Prison, was assigned to work in the kitchen workshop under Chu’s direct supervision to make daily meals served to inmates.
In July 2017, Kong told his mother during a prison visit that his friend needed money and that a person would contact her to make arrangements. Three days later, Chu contacted Kong’s mother by phone. A cash deposit of $40,000 was made into a bank account of Chu’s wife shortly afterwards.
The court also heard that on January 16, February 14 and March 7, 2018, three loans of $10,000, $30,000 and $10,000 were respectively transferred into the bank account of Chu’s wife.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers in May 2018, Chu admitted that he had disclosed his financial difficulty to another inmate posted to the kitchen workshop under his direct supervision. The inmate made money-lending arrangements for the abovementioned $50,000.
Co-defendant Kong Tat-lung, 31, earlier pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistracy to one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage jointly charged with Chu. Kong had his case adjourned to March 27 for sentence.
The CSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Diana Cheung, assisted by ICAC officers Caroline Yu and Kevin Lo.