Nurse and four others charged by ICAC with forgery over COVID-19 jab records
2022-4-8
The ICAC today (April 8) charged a nurse formerly working at a Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) and four others from two families for allegedly conspiring to make false vaccination records by pretending having been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine at the CVC.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the five persons with two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery, contrary to Sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Carmen Ho Ka-man, 34, registered nurse; Liu Hoi-yan, 42, and her mother Siu Hang-yee, 70, both housewives, face one count of conspiracy to commit forgery.
Ho and two sisters from another family, Cheng Nga-yi, 30, and Cheng Sze-wai, 25, respectively private tutor and primary school teacher, also face one count of conspiracy to commit forgery.
The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court next Tuesday (April 12) for plea.
Since mid-January 2022, Quality HealthCare Medical Services Limited (QHMS) has been appointed by the Government to operate a CVC at Kowloon Bay Sports Centre for inoculating qualified citizens with BioNTech vaccine in light of the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong. After inoculation, the citizen would be issued a vaccination record.
The alleged offences took place between January and late February this year. At the material time, Ho was engaged by QHMS to work at the above CVC as part-time inoculation nurse and was assigned to perform her duty at one of the booths. To avoid any possible conflict of interest situation, QHMS prohibited any nurse working at the CVC from providing vaccination service to her family members or friends.
Starting from February 24, 2022, all persons aged 12 or above entering or remaining on specified premises are required to be vaccinated unless they are exempted. On February 20, 2022, i.e. four days before the Vaccine Pass arrangement came into full implementation, Liu, Siu and the Chengs went to the above CVC and visited Ho’s booth. They were then issued vaccination records by Ho without getting vaccinated.
One of the charges alleges that Ho, Liu and Siu conspired to make false vaccination records of Liu and Siu, with the intention that the duo should use the records to induce the persons-in-charge of the venues requiring the presentation of the records for access into the relevant venues to accept them as genuine.
Another charge alleges that Ho and the Chengs conspired to make false vaccination records of the Chengs for a similar purpose.
ICAC inquiries revealed that Liu and Cheng Nga-yi are friends of Ho. They had separately told Ho their worries about the side effects of vaccination and the restricted access to a number of venues following the implementation of the Vaccine Pass arrangement. Supervisors of the CVC recovered four syringes containing unused vaccine from the sharp box in Ho’s booth for placing used vaccine syringes after the four co-defendants’ visits.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that it is a civic duty to get vaccinated and support the Government’s fight against COVID-19. Members of the public should never resort to illegal means to obtain any false vaccination records. Forgery is a serious offence. Any person who commits the offence is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years.
QHMS and the Civil Service Bureau, which oversees the vaccination programme, have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the five persons with two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery, contrary to Sections 71 and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Carmen Ho Ka-man, 34, registered nurse; Liu Hoi-yan, 42, and her mother Siu Hang-yee, 70, both housewives, face one count of conspiracy to commit forgery.
Ho and two sisters from another family, Cheng Nga-yi, 30, and Cheng Sze-wai, 25, respectively private tutor and primary school teacher, also face one count of conspiracy to commit forgery.
The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court next Tuesday (April 12) for plea.
Since mid-January 2022, Quality HealthCare Medical Services Limited (QHMS) has been appointed by the Government to operate a CVC at Kowloon Bay Sports Centre for inoculating qualified citizens with BioNTech vaccine in light of the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong. After inoculation, the citizen would be issued a vaccination record.
The alleged offences took place between January and late February this year. At the material time, Ho was engaged by QHMS to work at the above CVC as part-time inoculation nurse and was assigned to perform her duty at one of the booths. To avoid any possible conflict of interest situation, QHMS prohibited any nurse working at the CVC from providing vaccination service to her family members or friends.
Starting from February 24, 2022, all persons aged 12 or above entering or remaining on specified premises are required to be vaccinated unless they are exempted. On February 20, 2022, i.e. four days before the Vaccine Pass arrangement came into full implementation, Liu, Siu and the Chengs went to the above CVC and visited Ho’s booth. They were then issued vaccination records by Ho without getting vaccinated.
One of the charges alleges that Ho, Liu and Siu conspired to make false vaccination records of Liu and Siu, with the intention that the duo should use the records to induce the persons-in-charge of the venues requiring the presentation of the records for access into the relevant venues to accept them as genuine.
Another charge alleges that Ho and the Chengs conspired to make false vaccination records of the Chengs for a similar purpose.
ICAC inquiries revealed that Liu and Cheng Nga-yi are friends of Ho. They had separately told Ho their worries about the side effects of vaccination and the restricted access to a number of venues following the implementation of the Vaccine Pass arrangement. Supervisors of the CVC recovered four syringes containing unused vaccine from the sharp box in Ho’s booth for placing used vaccine syringes after the four co-defendants’ visits.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that it is a civic duty to get vaccinated and support the Government’s fight against COVID-19. Members of the public should never resort to illegal means to obtain any false vaccination records. Forgery is a serious offence. Any person who commits the offence is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years.
QHMS and the Civil Service Bureau, which oversees the vaccination programme, have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.