Five Health Inspectors of Centre for Food Safety charged by ICAC for conspiracy to steal food samples by abusing power
2024-6-19
Five Health Inspectors of the Centre for Food Safety (the Centre) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), who allegedly abused their power by failing to properly dispose of unused food samples after testing and stole them, were charged by the ICAC yesterday (June 18) for conspiracy to steal those food.
The five Health Inspectors of the FEHD, aged between 28 and 37, are Chan Ying-shan, Lam Hiu-kwan, Yu Fung-chun, Lau Shing-hin and Lee Chun-hei. They jointly face one count of conspiracy to steal, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The five defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (June 20) for plea.
The charge alleges that between May 2022 and March 2023, the five defendants conspired together to steal part of the food samples purchased on behalf of the Centre for the purpose of conducting food tests.
The Centre is responsible for ensuring food sold in Hong Kong is safe and fit for consumption. At the material time, the five defendants were posted to a team of the Food Import/Export Section of the Risk Management Division of the Centre. Its duties included conducting food tests on radiation level.
The Centre requires Health Inspectors to purchase randomly selected food samples at a fair and reasonable price. Approximately one kilogramme of each food sample is required to conduct the test. In addition, the Centre prohibits its officers from deliberately ordering excessive food samples or misappropriating any untested food samples. After conducting tests, unused food samples should be properly disposed of at a refuse collection point and the disposal should be properly documented.
In mid-2022 and early 2023, the team of the five defendants used public funds to purchase various food samples worth totalling over $88,000 from five food importers for conducting two tests on radiation level.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint in connection with the purchase of food samples by officers of the Centre. During the course of the investigation, the ICAC found that the five defendants had planned to misappropriate the residual food samples after the tests, not following the internal guidelines to properly dispose of them and make records. ICAC officers subsequently recovered at their homes over 80 unused food samples, including canned abalone, white truffle sauce, crab bisque, Japanese rice and various types of pasta.
The FEHD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. Following the findings of this case, the ICAC is helping the FEHD to review the relevant procedures, and will provide corruption prevention recommendations in order to make proper enhancement and to stamp out malpractices.
In addition, the ICAC has provided integrity refresher training to all FEHD staff responsible for food testing, reminding them to maintain a high standard of integrity when discharging their duties, and not to use their official position for personal gain.
The five Health Inspectors of the FEHD, aged between 28 and 37, are Chan Ying-shan, Lam Hiu-kwan, Yu Fung-chun, Lau Shing-hin and Lee Chun-hei. They jointly face one count of conspiracy to steal, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The five defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (June 20) for plea.
The charge alleges that between May 2022 and March 2023, the five defendants conspired together to steal part of the food samples purchased on behalf of the Centre for the purpose of conducting food tests.
The Centre is responsible for ensuring food sold in Hong Kong is safe and fit for consumption. At the material time, the five defendants were posted to a team of the Food Import/Export Section of the Risk Management Division of the Centre. Its duties included conducting food tests on radiation level.
The Centre requires Health Inspectors to purchase randomly selected food samples at a fair and reasonable price. Approximately one kilogramme of each food sample is required to conduct the test. In addition, the Centre prohibits its officers from deliberately ordering excessive food samples or misappropriating any untested food samples. After conducting tests, unused food samples should be properly disposed of at a refuse collection point and the disposal should be properly documented.
In mid-2022 and early 2023, the team of the five defendants used public funds to purchase various food samples worth totalling over $88,000 from five food importers for conducting two tests on radiation level.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint in connection with the purchase of food samples by officers of the Centre. During the course of the investigation, the ICAC found that the five defendants had planned to misappropriate the residual food samples after the tests, not following the internal guidelines to properly dispose of them and make records. ICAC officers subsequently recovered at their homes over 80 unused food samples, including canned abalone, white truffle sauce, crab bisque, Japanese rice and various types of pasta.
The FEHD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. Following the findings of this case, the ICAC is helping the FEHD to review the relevant procedures, and will provide corruption prevention recommendations in order to make proper enhancement and to stamp out malpractices.
In addition, the ICAC has provided integrity refresher training to all FEHD staff responsible for food testing, reminding them to maintain a high standard of integrity when discharging their duties, and not to use their official position for personal gain.