Private elderly home operator admits bribing SWD officer for patient referral
2024-2-2
An operator of a private residential care home for the elderly (RCHE), charged by the ICAC, today (February 2) pleaded guilty at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to offering bribes to an Assistant Social Work Officer of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for referring discharged patients of the Princess Margaret Hospital to the RCHE.
Li Lai-chun, 51, operator of Happy Year Elderly Care Home (Happy Year), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming adjourned the case to 21 March 2024 for mention, and granted Li bail.
The court heard that Li was a shareholder-cum-director of the company which operated Happy Year, a private RCHE on SWD’s list of registered RCHEs.
At the material time, an Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD posted to the Medical Social Services Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Lai King Building (Lai King Building) was responsible for arranging discharged elderly patients to reside in RCHEs for rehabilitation. The Assistant Social Work Officer was only allowed to provide SWD’s list of registered RCHEs to the patients for selection, and should not indicate his preference for any RCHE on the list nor recommend to the patients any RCHE operated by his family members or close personal friends.
Li admitted having conspired together with the Assistant Social Work Officer between May 2018 and September 2022 for the latter to accept bribes for referring patients discharged from Lai King Building to Happy Year.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that over a span of four years, the Assistant Social Work Officer had arranged a total of 33 discharged patients of Lai King Building to reside at Happy Year.
The ICAC reminds members of the public that bribery is a serious offence. Offering bribes to civil servants in exchange for their assistance or favour is strictly prohibited. Civil servants should uphold integrity in performing their duties and should never abuse their official capacity to obtain personal gain.
Co-defendant Yau Chun-wo, 58, Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD, was charged with one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage and one alternative charge of public servant accepting an advantage. No plea was entered today and he was granted bail until 21 March 2024 for mention.
The SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Alvin Pang.
Li Lai-chun, 51, operator of Happy Year Elderly Care Home (Happy Year), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming adjourned the case to 21 March 2024 for mention, and granted Li bail.
The court heard that Li was a shareholder-cum-director of the company which operated Happy Year, a private RCHE on SWD’s list of registered RCHEs.
At the material time, an Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD posted to the Medical Social Services Unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Lai King Building (Lai King Building) was responsible for arranging discharged elderly patients to reside in RCHEs for rehabilitation. The Assistant Social Work Officer was only allowed to provide SWD’s list of registered RCHEs to the patients for selection, and should not indicate his preference for any RCHE on the list nor recommend to the patients any RCHE operated by his family members or close personal friends.
Li admitted having conspired together with the Assistant Social Work Officer between May 2018 and September 2022 for the latter to accept bribes for referring patients discharged from Lai King Building to Happy Year.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that over a span of four years, the Assistant Social Work Officer had arranged a total of 33 discharged patients of Lai King Building to reside at Happy Year.
The ICAC reminds members of the public that bribery is a serious offence. Offering bribes to civil servants in exchange for their assistance or favour is strictly prohibited. Civil servants should uphold integrity in performing their duties and should never abuse their official capacity to obtain personal gain.
Co-defendant Yau Chun-wo, 58, Assistant Social Work Officer of the SWD, was charged with one count of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage and one alternative charge of public servant accepting an advantage. No plea was entered today and he was granted bail until 21 March 2024 for mention.
The SWD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Alvin Pang.