Travel insurance claimants charged with fraud and disclosing ICAC probe
2020-11-13
Two travel insurance claimants have been charged by the ICAC today (November 13) with conspiracy to defraud and attempted fraud over damaged property claims, while one of them further faces violation of the anti-bribery law by disclosing details of an ICAC investigation.
Choi Tsz-wing, 29, senior counter representative, faces three charges–two of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law, and one of disclosing the details of an investigation, contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Michael Choi Chung-hang, 27, assistant manager, faces two counts of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (November 17) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendants and their two girlfriends went on a trip to Vietnam. Travel insurance policies were taken out from AXA General Insurance Hong Kong Limited (AXA) for the whole party prior to the trip.
Two of the charges allege that on or about February 27, 2018, Choi Tsz-wing conspired together with his girlfriend to defraud AXA by falsely representing that his mobile phone damaged during the aforesaid Vietnam trip had been taken to a mobile phone repair shop for repair, and that his girlfriend had taken her damaged mobile phone to the same shop for repair, thereby induced the AXA to process two claims for repair cost.
It is alleged that the two claims involved compensations totalling about $5,500.
Another charge alleges that on or about December 16, 2019, Choi Tsz-wing, knowing or suspecting that an investigation in respect of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed under the POBO is taking place, disclosed to his girlfriend details of such investigation without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
Two other charges allege that on or about March 8, 2018, Michael Choi Chung-hang falsely represented to AXA that his mobile phone damaged during the aforesaid Vietnam trip had been taken to the abovementioned shop for repair, and that his girlfriend had taken her damaged camera and mobile phone to the same shop for repair.
It is alleged that Michael Choi Chung-hang, with intend to defraud, attempted to induce AXA to process two claims for repair cost, which would result in benefit to himself or his girlfriend or in prejudice to AXA.
AXA has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance next Tuesday.
Choi Tsz-wing, 29, senior counter representative, faces three charges–two of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law, and one of disclosing the details of an investigation, contrary to Section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Michael Choi Chung-hang, 27, assistant manager, faces two counts of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (November 17) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendants and their two girlfriends went on a trip to Vietnam. Travel insurance policies were taken out from AXA General Insurance Hong Kong Limited (AXA) for the whole party prior to the trip.
Two of the charges allege that on or about February 27, 2018, Choi Tsz-wing conspired together with his girlfriend to defraud AXA by falsely representing that his mobile phone damaged during the aforesaid Vietnam trip had been taken to a mobile phone repair shop for repair, and that his girlfriend had taken her damaged mobile phone to the same shop for repair, thereby induced the AXA to process two claims for repair cost.
It is alleged that the two claims involved compensations totalling about $5,500.
Another charge alleges that on or about December 16, 2019, Choi Tsz-wing, knowing or suspecting that an investigation in respect of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed under the POBO is taking place, disclosed to his girlfriend details of such investigation without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
Two other charges allege that on or about March 8, 2018, Michael Choi Chung-hang falsely represented to AXA that his mobile phone damaged during the aforesaid Vietnam trip had been taken to the abovementioned shop for repair, and that his girlfriend had taken her damaged camera and mobile phone to the same shop for repair.
It is alleged that Michael Choi Chung-hang, with intend to defraud, attempted to induce AXA to process two claims for repair cost, which would result in benefit to himself or his girlfriend or in prejudice to AXA.
AXA has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance next Tuesday.