Ex-NGO employee charged with fraud over service contract awarded to her company
2020-6-29
A former employee of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has been charged by the ICAC today (June 29) with fraud for failing to disclose her conflict of interest to the NGO when awarding a service contract to a company co-owned by her.
Lau Tze-hei, 46, former nursing officer of Fu Hong Society, faces one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendant will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (July 2) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by Fu Hong Society. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offence.
Fu Hong Society is an NGO which provides rehabilitation and health care services to individuals with disabilities. Its code of conduct provided that an employee should make proper declaration on conflict of interest.
At the material time, the defendant was a nursing officer of Fu Hong Society posted to Lai Yiu Adult Training Centre. She was responsible for assisting her supervisor in the centre’s administration work, including engaging service providers and handling quotations submitted by them.
The charge alleges that between August 3, 2018 and March 4, 2019, the defendant concealed from and failed to disclose to Fu Hong Society her interest in a company co-owned by her, Prestige Health Care (Nursing) Limited (Prestige Health Care), whilst she was an employee of Fu Hong Society having a duty to make full disclosure of any existing or potential conflict of interest to the organisation.
The defendant, with intent to defraud, has allegedly induced Fu Hong Society to engage Prestige Health Care as its service provider and make payments to it, which resulted in benefit to Prestige Health Care or in prejudice to Fu Hong Society.
It is alleged that Fu Hong Society had released payments totalling about $53,000 to Prestige Health Care for the provision of temporary health care worker services.
Fu Hong Society has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance on Thursday.
Lau Tze-hei, 46, former nursing officer of Fu Hong Society, faces one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendant will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (July 2) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by Fu Hong Society. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offence.
Fu Hong Society is an NGO which provides rehabilitation and health care services to individuals with disabilities. Its code of conduct provided that an employee should make proper declaration on conflict of interest.
At the material time, the defendant was a nursing officer of Fu Hong Society posted to Lai Yiu Adult Training Centre. She was responsible for assisting her supervisor in the centre’s administration work, including engaging service providers and handling quotations submitted by them.
The charge alleges that between August 3, 2018 and March 4, 2019, the defendant concealed from and failed to disclose to Fu Hong Society her interest in a company co-owned by her, Prestige Health Care (Nursing) Limited (Prestige Health Care), whilst she was an employee of Fu Hong Society having a duty to make full disclosure of any existing or potential conflict of interest to the organisation.
The defendant, with intent to defraud, has allegedly induced Fu Hong Society to engage Prestige Health Care as its service provider and make payments to it, which resulted in benefit to Prestige Health Care or in prejudice to Fu Hong Society.
It is alleged that Fu Hong Society had released payments totalling about $53,000 to Prestige Health Care for the provision of temporary health care worker services.
Fu Hong Society has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending her court appearance on Thursday.