Woman charged by ICAC admits $530,000 fraud over SWD’s traffic accident assistant payments and insurance claims
2024-4-25
A couple and a relative of them were earlier charged by the ICAC for fraud over Traffic Accident Victim Assistance (TAVA) payments by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and insurance compensation by allegedly making false representations about their injuries in traffic accidents. The wife today (April 25) admitted at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts that she had defrauded the SWD and three insurers of totalling about $530,000.
Chong Siu-fong, 40, beauty consultant, pleaded guilty to five charges – two of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; and three of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.
Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case to July 25 for mention and granted Chong bail.
The court heard that SWD’s TAVA Scheme provided immediate financial assistance to traffic accident victims where applicants were required to submit application forms and sick leave certificates to the SWD.
At the material time, Chong was employed by a cosmetic company. She had taken out medical and accident insurance policies with several insurers, including AIA International Limited, Prudential Hong Kong Limited and FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited.
Between July 2020 and September 2022, Chong submitted two TAVA applications to the SWD, claiming that she was injured in two traffic accidents. She also made insurance claims from the three insurers on one of the traffic accidents.
The SWD subsequently granted two TAVA payments totalling about $300,000 to Chong while the three insurers released three sums of medical compensation totalling over $230,000 to her.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint in relation to the insurance claims. Enquiries revealed that Chong not only submitted false sick leave certificates when she filed applications with the SWD and the three insurers, she also falsely claimed that she was a housewife with no earnings, and that she had not filed applications with other insurers in respect of the traffic accidents concerned.
Chong’s husband Yeung Ping-wai, 41, part-time chef, was also charged with one count of fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the charge at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today. His case was scheduled for July 25 for mention.
Co-defendant Chan Hok-yan, 44, unemployed and spouse of Chong’s elder sister, was earlier charged with one count of fraud and six counts of conspiracy to defraud. He failed to attend court on March 8 this year and a warrant for the arrest of him was issued by the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on the same day.
The SWD and the insurers concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Teresa Cheung.
Chong Siu-fong, 40, beauty consultant, pleaded guilty to five charges – two of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; and three of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.
Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case to July 25 for mention and granted Chong bail.
The court heard that SWD’s TAVA Scheme provided immediate financial assistance to traffic accident victims where applicants were required to submit application forms and sick leave certificates to the SWD.
At the material time, Chong was employed by a cosmetic company. She had taken out medical and accident insurance policies with several insurers, including AIA International Limited, Prudential Hong Kong Limited and FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited.
Between July 2020 and September 2022, Chong submitted two TAVA applications to the SWD, claiming that she was injured in two traffic accidents. She also made insurance claims from the three insurers on one of the traffic accidents.
The SWD subsequently granted two TAVA payments totalling about $300,000 to Chong while the three insurers released three sums of medical compensation totalling over $230,000 to her.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint in relation to the insurance claims. Enquiries revealed that Chong not only submitted false sick leave certificates when she filed applications with the SWD and the three insurers, she also falsely claimed that she was a housewife with no earnings, and that she had not filed applications with other insurers in respect of the traffic accidents concerned.
Chong’s husband Yeung Ping-wai, 41, part-time chef, was also charged with one count of fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the charge at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today. His case was scheduled for July 25 for mention.
Co-defendant Chan Hok-yan, 44, unemployed and spouse of Chong’s elder sister, was earlier charged with one count of fraud and six counts of conspiracy to defraud. He failed to attend court on March 8 this year and a warrant for the arrest of him was issued by the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on the same day.
The SWD and the insurers concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Teresa Cheung.