Artisan of WSD charged as ICAC probe reveals loan and repayment fraud involving ex-colleague
2022-8-22
An Artisan of the Water Supplies Department (WSD) was charged by the ICAC today (August 22) with deceiving a former colleague of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) into lending him $20,000, and making false representations that he had repaid over $15,500 to the former colleague.
Cheung Chuen-hung, 24, Artisan of the WSD, faces four charges – two of fraud and two of attempted evasion of liability by deception, contrary to Sections 16A and 18B(1)(a) of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (August 24) for plea.
In August 2019, the defendant joined the WSD as an Artisan. Prior to this posting, he was a Technician Trainee II of the EMSD. Upon the defendant’s solicitation, a former colleague in the EMSD provided him with six loans totalling over $36,000 between May 2020 and May 2021.
Two charges concerning two of the above loans allege that the defendant falsely represented to the former EMSD colleague that he had paid medical expenses for his mother or needed to pay for a surgery of his mother, and with intent to defraud, induced the former colleague to lend him a total of $20,000.
The two remaining charges allege that on two occasions between April and July 2021, the defendant dishonestly attempt to secure the remission of part of an existing liability by falsely claiming that he had transferred a total over $15,500 to the bank account of the above former colleague.
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 defendant. ICAC investigation revealed that the defendant still owed the lender $25,600 as of February 2022.
The EMSD and the WSD have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Cheung Chuen-hung, 24, Artisan of the WSD, faces four charges – two of fraud and two of attempted evasion of liability by deception, contrary to Sections 16A and 18B(1)(a) of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (August 24) for plea.
In August 2019, the defendant joined the WSD as an Artisan. Prior to this posting, he was a Technician Trainee II of the EMSD. Upon the defendant’s solicitation, a former colleague in the EMSD provided him with six loans totalling over $36,000 between May 2020 and May 2021.
Two charges concerning two of the above loans allege that the defendant falsely represented to the former EMSD colleague that he had paid medical expenses for his mother or needed to pay for a surgery of his mother, and with intent to defraud, induced the former colleague to lend him a total of $20,000.
The two remaining charges allege that on two occasions between April and July 2021, the defendant dishonestly attempt to secure the remission of part of an existing liability by falsely claiming that he had transferred a total over $15,500 to the bank account of the above former colleague.
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 defendant. ICAC investigation revealed that the defendant still owed the lender $25,600 as of February 2022.
The EMSD and the WSD have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.