Four months’ jail for ex-Police Constable for accepting bribes and soliciting unauthorised loan
2024-4-26
A then Police Constable, charged by the ICAC, was today (April 26) sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes totalling over $13,000 from a director of a money lending company for answering the latter’s enquiries in relation to the operation of the Police, and soliciting an unauthorised loan of about $10,000 from a colleague.
Alfred So Ching-fung, 30, former Police Constable, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and one count of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, contrary to section 3 of the POBO.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong reprimanded the defendant for undermining law and order. The defendant failed to uphold the core values of the Police and abused his position as a Police Constable to commit crimes. His acts were not tolerated in a civilised society, warranting an immediate custodial sentence.
The court heard that at the material time, So was a Police Constable posted to Tin Sum Division of Sha Tin District. After coming to know a freelance money lending agent through cold calling, So was referred by the agent to various money lending companies. The agent subsequently became a director-cum-shareholder of a money lending company.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the Police. Enquiries revealed that between late June and mid-October 2021, So had accepted 16 loans totalling $13,300 from the money lender company’s director.
During the loan period, So had answered enquiries from the director about the operation of the Police. One of the enquiries concerned a case handled by Mong Kok Police Station. So said he learned from an officer of Mong Kong District that it took time to trace a relief taxi driver involved in the case, and a search warrant was required for obtaining CCTV footages from the relevant store. So had asked a colleague of the District Anti-triad Squad in Mong Kong District to help him to keep an eye on the progress and update him.
The director also asked whether the Police would repeatedly raid a party room. So replied that it rarely happened, unless there were complaints or some other reasons.
The court heard that So relied on the usual investigation method of the Police to make up the replies. He had not approached any Police officer concerned before making the replies.
In addition, So solicited a loan of about $10,000 from a Police Constable in his team without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, but he was refused by the latter.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Rosa Lo, assisted by ICAC officer Tim Leung.
Alfred So Ching-fung, 30, former Police Constable, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and one count of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, contrary to section 3 of the POBO.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong reprimanded the defendant for undermining law and order. The defendant failed to uphold the core values of the Police and abused his position as a Police Constable to commit crimes. His acts were not tolerated in a civilised society, warranting an immediate custodial sentence.
The court heard that at the material time, So was a Police Constable posted to Tin Sum Division of Sha Tin District. After coming to know a freelance money lending agent through cold calling, So was referred by the agent to various money lending companies. The agent subsequently became a director-cum-shareholder of a money lending company.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the Police. Enquiries revealed that between late June and mid-October 2021, So had accepted 16 loans totalling $13,300 from the money lender company’s director.
During the loan period, So had answered enquiries from the director about the operation of the Police. One of the enquiries concerned a case handled by Mong Kok Police Station. So said he learned from an officer of Mong Kong District that it took time to trace a relief taxi driver involved in the case, and a search warrant was required for obtaining CCTV footages from the relevant store. So had asked a colleague of the District Anti-triad Squad in Mong Kong District to help him to keep an eye on the progress and update him.
The director also asked whether the Police would repeatedly raid a party room. So replied that it rarely happened, unless there were complaints or some other reasons.
The court heard that So relied on the usual investigation method of the Police to make up the replies. He had not approached any Police officer concerned before making the replies.
In addition, So solicited a loan of about $10,000 from a Police Constable in his team without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, but he was refused by the latter.
The Police had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Rosa Lo, assisted by ICAC officer Tim Leung.