Housing Officer charged by ICAC guilty of falsifying flat inspection visit records
2024-6-4
A Housing Officer of the Housing Department (HD), charged by the ICAC, was today (June 4) convicted of an offence under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) for using records containing false information to mislead the HD that she had conducted flat inspection visits to verify occupancy status of various flats of a public rental housing estate.
Li Bik-ki, 51, was found guilty of 18 counts of agent using document with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the POBO.
Magistrate Mr Tsang Hing-tung adjourned the case to June 18 for sentence, pending the background report of the defendant. The defendant was granted bail.
At the material time, the defendant was posted to Mun Tung Estate in Tung Chung. She was responsible for dealing with tenancy matters and conducting biennial inspection to combat abuse of public rental housing resources through surprise home inspection visits to flats so as to verify and record their occupancy status. The defendant was the only officer responsible for conducting home inspection visits at Mun Hong House of Mun Tung Estate.
The court heard that the records submitted by the defendant showed that she conducted home inspection visits in respect of over 380 flats between November 2020 and December 2021. When reviewing the records, the HD however discovered that the sole occupant of one of the flats had already passed away when the purported inspection took place.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HD. Enquiries revealed that over 320 records submitted by the defendant were found questionable. Upon receipt of legal advice from the Department of Justice, a total of 19 specimen charges were laid against the defendant. She was found guilty of 18 charges today for using 18 records containing false statements to purport that she had conducted home inspection visits at 18 flats at Mun Hong House.
The HD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds civil servants to uphold a high standard of integrity in discharging their duties diligently so as to safeguard the proper use of public resources.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Jeff Ho, assisted by ICAC officer Carrie Wong.
Li Bik-ki, 51, was found guilty of 18 counts of agent using document with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the POBO.
Magistrate Mr Tsang Hing-tung adjourned the case to June 18 for sentence, pending the background report of the defendant. The defendant was granted bail.
At the material time, the defendant was posted to Mun Tung Estate in Tung Chung. She was responsible for dealing with tenancy matters and conducting biennial inspection to combat abuse of public rental housing resources through surprise home inspection visits to flats so as to verify and record their occupancy status. The defendant was the only officer responsible for conducting home inspection visits at Mun Hong House of Mun Tung Estate.
The court heard that the records submitted by the defendant showed that she conducted home inspection visits in respect of over 380 flats between November 2020 and December 2021. When reviewing the records, the HD however discovered that the sole occupant of one of the flats had already passed away when the purported inspection took place.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HD. Enquiries revealed that over 320 records submitted by the defendant were found questionable. Upon receipt of legal advice from the Department of Justice, a total of 19 specimen charges were laid against the defendant. She was found guilty of 18 charges today for using 18 records containing false statements to purport that she had conducted home inspection visits at 18 flats at Mun Hong House.
The HD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds civil servants to uphold a high standard of integrity in discharging their duties diligently so as to safeguard the proper use of public resources.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Jeff Ho, assisted by ICAC officer Carrie Wong.