Woman charged by ICAC admits violating POBO by disclosing identity of subject of ICAC probe
2023-12-19
A woman, charged by the ICAC, today (December 19) admitted at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts that she had disclosed the identity of a person under ICAC investigation.
Li Wing-yan, 35, freelancer, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing identity, etc. of persons being investigated, contrary to section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case to January 23 next year for sentence, pending the defendant’s community service order report. The defendant was granted bail.
The court heard that in mid-August 2022, the ICAC received an email sent by the defendant complaining that a bank customer might have bribed a staff member of a bank for assistance in securing a loan. The defendant was subsequently reminded by ICAC officers not to disclose the report to others, otherwise she would have contravened section 30 of the POBO.
Investigation revealed that in mid-September 2022, the defendant sent an anonymous email to the bank which disclosed that the bank customer was the subject of an ICAC investigation and details of the investigation.
Under section 30 of the POBO, any person who discloses the identity of the subject person to other people without lawful authority or reasonable excuse shall be guilty of an offence.
The bank concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Douglas Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Kevin Lo.
Li Wing-yan, 35, freelancer, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosing identity, etc. of persons being investigated, contrary to section 30(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case to January 23 next year for sentence, pending the defendant’s community service order report. The defendant was granted bail.
The court heard that in mid-August 2022, the ICAC received an email sent by the defendant complaining that a bank customer might have bribed a staff member of a bank for assistance in securing a loan. The defendant was subsequently reminded by ICAC officers not to disclose the report to others, otherwise she would have contravened section 30 of the POBO.
Investigation revealed that in mid-September 2022, the defendant sent an anonymous email to the bank which disclosed that the bank customer was the subject of an ICAC investigation and details of the investigation.
Under section 30 of the POBO, any person who discloses the identity of the subject person to other people without lawful authority or reasonable excuse shall be guilty of an offence.
The bank concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Douglas Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Kevin Lo.