Operation Assistant of HA admits bribing supervisor for favourable treatment
2020-5-8
An Operation Assistant of a public hospital under the Hospital Authority (HA), charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Eastern Magistracy today (May 8) that she had offered gifts consisting of food items worth totalling over $1,100 to her supervisor in relation to her work.
Tseung Hung-ling, 50, Operation Assistant of the HA, pleaded guilty to three counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Ho Chun-yiu adjourned the case until June 5 for mention and granted the defendant bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was an Operation Assistant of the HA working in the Calendaring Unit of the Laundry Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. The unit was responsible for handling bed covers, pillow covers, blankets and tiny cloth used for surgery.
The defendant worked under the supervision of a Foreman who was responsible for assisting in the preparation of duty roster, assigning daily work, granting vacation leave and conducting performance appraisal with subordinates.
The defendant observed that the Foreman had frequently picked on her mistakes at work due to her lack of experience, assigned less favourable duties to her and scolded her at the workplace. Upon the suggestion of a colleague, the defendant decided to offer gifts to the Foreman with a view to improving their relationship.
The court heard that on an occasion in June 2017, the defendant gave a receipt of a birthday cake worth around $300 to the Foreman for her to collect it, despite knowing that it was not the Foreman’s birthday.
The defendant observed that more favourable duties were then assigned to her but later she felt that the situation worsened again. The defendant then offered a further gift by placing a pack of dried crocodile meat worth $195 in the Foreman’s locker and informed the Foreman.
As unfavourable duties were still assigned to the defendant, she further placed two fresh green-lip abalones worth totalling around $660 in the Foreman’s locker on an occasion in November 2017 and notified the latter.
Despite her offering of gifts totalling $1,155, the defendant observed that the situation had not improved. In March 2019, the defendant made a complaint to the HA, which later referred the matter to the ICAC.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that she had offered the abovementioned gifts which she believed were accepted by the Foreman with an intention to obtain favourable treatment at work.
The HA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jacky Lee.
Tseung Hung-ling, 50, Operation Assistant of the HA, pleaded guilty to three counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Ho Chun-yiu adjourned the case until June 5 for mention and granted the defendant bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was an Operation Assistant of the HA working in the Calendaring Unit of the Laundry Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. The unit was responsible for handling bed covers, pillow covers, blankets and tiny cloth used for surgery.
The defendant worked under the supervision of a Foreman who was responsible for assisting in the preparation of duty roster, assigning daily work, granting vacation leave and conducting performance appraisal with subordinates.
The defendant observed that the Foreman had frequently picked on her mistakes at work due to her lack of experience, assigned less favourable duties to her and scolded her at the workplace. Upon the suggestion of a colleague, the defendant decided to offer gifts to the Foreman with a view to improving their relationship.
The court heard that on an occasion in June 2017, the defendant gave a receipt of a birthday cake worth around $300 to the Foreman for her to collect it, despite knowing that it was not the Foreman’s birthday.
The defendant observed that more favourable duties were then assigned to her but later she felt that the situation worsened again. The defendant then offered a further gift by placing a pack of dried crocodile meat worth $195 in the Foreman’s locker and informed the Foreman.
As unfavourable duties were still assigned to the defendant, she further placed two fresh green-lip abalones worth totalling around $660 in the Foreman’s locker on an occasion in November 2017 and notified the latter.
Despite her offering of gifts totalling $1,155, the defendant observed that the situation had not improved. In March 2019, the defendant made a complaint to the HA, which later referred the matter to the ICAC.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted that she had offered the abovementioned gifts which she believed were accepted by the Foreman with an intention to obtain favourable treatment at work.
The HA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jacky Lee.