Ex-head of private disabled persons care home charged by ICAC with forgery over attendance records
2022-1-4
A former head of a private residential care home for persons with disabilities (RCHD) was charged by the ICAC today (January 4) for allegedly forging his attendance records to mislead the Social Welfare Department (SWD) that the RCHD had met the statutory and contractual manpower requirements.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised laying charges against the former head of the RCHD.
Man Tat, 70, former home manager of Tung Fong Rehabilitation Home (TFH), faces four charges – one of conspiracy to forge a document, contrary to Sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and three of forgery, contrary to Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance in the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (January 6) for plea.
At the material time, TFH was a “Medium Care Level” RCHD in Sheung Shui operated by Profit Huge Enterprise Limited (PHL). It had a valid licence issued by the SWD and was appointed by the department to supply 27 bought-places.
Under the statutory and contractual requirements, TFH was required to provide adequate manpower, including a home manager working eight hours per day. In order to ensure the quality of service and the caring provided to residents of TFH, SWD officers would examine the staff attendance records provided by TFH during site inspections so as to monitor and assess its compliance of the statutory and contractual requirements, and to consider its bought-place contract renewal. Failing to fulfil the statutory requirement is an offence under the Residential Care Homes (Persons with Disabilities) Regulation.
The defendant was a shareholder of PHL and the home manager of TFH, while his daughter was the welfare worker of TFH.
The alleged offences took place between April and August 2019.
The defendant had allegedly conspired together with his daughter to make a false attendance record of him for April 2019 with the intention to use it to induce the SWD to accept it as genuine. He had also allegedly made another three false attendance records of himself for June to August 2019 for the same purpose.
The four allegedly false attendance records purportedly showed that the defendant was on duty at TFH on six days in the above mentioned four months as shown on those records. But the defendant was out of Hong Kong during the relevant periods.
The SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised laying charges against the former head of the RCHD.
Man Tat, 70, former home manager of Tung Fong Rehabilitation Home (TFH), faces four charges – one of conspiracy to forge a document, contrary to Sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and three of forgery, contrary to Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance in the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (January 6) for plea.
At the material time, TFH was a “Medium Care Level” RCHD in Sheung Shui operated by Profit Huge Enterprise Limited (PHL). It had a valid licence issued by the SWD and was appointed by the department to supply 27 bought-places.
Under the statutory and contractual requirements, TFH was required to provide adequate manpower, including a home manager working eight hours per day. In order to ensure the quality of service and the caring provided to residents of TFH, SWD officers would examine the staff attendance records provided by TFH during site inspections so as to monitor and assess its compliance of the statutory and contractual requirements, and to consider its bought-place contract renewal. Failing to fulfil the statutory requirement is an offence under the Residential Care Homes (Persons with Disabilities) Regulation.
The defendant was a shareholder of PHL and the home manager of TFH, while his daughter was the welfare worker of TFH.
The alleged offences took place between April and August 2019.
The defendant had allegedly conspired together with his daughter to make a false attendance record of him for April 2019 with the intention to use it to induce the SWD to accept it as genuine. He had also allegedly made another three false attendance records of himself for June to August 2019 for the same purpose.
The four allegedly false attendance records purportedly showed that the defendant was on duty at TFH on six days in the above mentioned four months as shown on those records. But the defendant was out of Hong Kong during the relevant periods.
The SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.