Clerical Assistant of LCSD sentenced for fraud over travel allowance
2020-5-4
A Clerical Assistant of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), charged by the ICAC, was today (May 4) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistracy for deceiving the department into paying him travel allowances totalling over $3,500 by furnishing a false home address.
Au Chi-wang, 45, was sentenced by Magistrate Miss Lau Suk-han to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
In sentencing, the magistrate said the defendant premediated the scam and committed an offence which constituted a breach of trust. A suspended sentence was meted out to the defendant after taking into account his guilty plea and his full repayment made to the government.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that under the Civil Service Regulations, officers posted to “designated offices” but not residing in the same region are eligible to apply for Supplementary Travel Allowance (STA).
The defendant was a Clerical Assistant of the LCSD. In February 2017, he was posted to Mui Wo Swimming Pool on Lantau Island, which was a “designated office”.
In April 2018, the defendant changed his home address reported to the LCSD from an address in Tung Chung to another one in Wan Chai, the court heard.
Afterwards, he submitted five forms claiming for STA totalling over $3,500 for journeys taken between the Wan Chai flat and Mui Wo Swimming Pool between May and September 2018.
The court heard that the defendant was living in the Tung Chung flat at the material time hence was not eligible to apply for STA.
The LCSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kevin Lam.
Au Chi-wang, 45, was sentenced by Magistrate Miss Lau Suk-han to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
In sentencing, the magistrate said the defendant premediated the scam and committed an offence which constituted a breach of trust. A suspended sentence was meted out to the defendant after taking into account his guilty plea and his full repayment made to the government.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that under the Civil Service Regulations, officers posted to “designated offices” but not residing in the same region are eligible to apply for Supplementary Travel Allowance (STA).
The defendant was a Clerical Assistant of the LCSD. In February 2017, he was posted to Mui Wo Swimming Pool on Lantau Island, which was a “designated office”.
In April 2018, the defendant changed his home address reported to the LCSD from an address in Tung Chung to another one in Wan Chai, the court heard.
Afterwards, he submitted five forms claiming for STA totalling over $3,500 for journeys taken between the Wan Chai flat and Mui Wo Swimming Pool between May and September 2018.
The court heard that the defendant was living in the Tung Chung flat at the material time hence was not eligible to apply for STA.
The LCSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kevin Lam.