Four in court over false claims of allowances from Yuen Long DC
2016-1-7
Four persons, including two staff members of an elderly centre, appeared in the Tuen Mun Magistracy today (Thursday) after being charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud the Yuen Long District Council (DC) of allowances totalling about $19,000.
The defendants, who were charged on Tuesday (January 5), were Wong Po-mei, Yip Mei-fong, both 52, respectively supervisor and welfare worker of the Yuen Long Town Hall Mr Chan Ying Tseung Memorial Social Centre for the Elderly (the elderly centre); Cheung Hau-leung, 67, and Cheung Ching-nga, 40, both operators of Sun Nga Book Shop.
Wong, Yip, Cheung Hau-leung and Cheung Ching-nga faced a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. Wong alone was charged with a similar offence, while Wong and Yip faced another similar offence.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. Magistrate Ms Winnie Lau Yee-wan adjourned the case until February 18 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the elderly centre was a non-profit making community centre for the elderly. Among other services, the elderly centre organised day tours and interest classes for its members, and was eligible to apply for allowances, such as meal and printing allowances, from the Yuen Long DC.
One of the charges alleged that between February 8, 2012 and March 18, 2013, Wong conspired with a programme worker of the elderly centre to defraud the Yuen Long DC of meal allowances totalling $10,150 in relation to three events organised by the elderly centre.
Another charge alleged that between March 5, 2012 and March 25, 2013, Wong and Yip conspired together to defraud the Yuen Long DC of meal allowances totalling $6,090 in relation to two events organised by the elderly centre.
The remaining charge alleged that between March 3, 2012 and March 25, 2013, Wong, Yip, Cheung Hau-leung and Cheung Ching-nga conspired together to defraud the Yuen Long DC of printing allowances totalling $2,700 in relation to nine events organised by the elderly centre.
The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000.
The Yuen Long DC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eric Siu.
The defendants, who were charged on Tuesday (January 5), were Wong Po-mei, Yip Mei-fong, both 52, respectively supervisor and welfare worker of the Yuen Long Town Hall Mr Chan Ying Tseung Memorial Social Centre for the Elderly (the elderly centre); Cheung Hau-leung, 67, and Cheung Ching-nga, 40, both operators of Sun Nga Book Shop.
Wong, Yip, Cheung Hau-leung and Cheung Ching-nga faced a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. Wong alone was charged with a similar offence, while Wong and Yip faced another similar offence.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. Magistrate Ms Winnie Lau Yee-wan adjourned the case until February 18 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the elderly centre was a non-profit making community centre for the elderly. Among other services, the elderly centre organised day tours and interest classes for its members, and was eligible to apply for allowances, such as meal and printing allowances, from the Yuen Long DC.
One of the charges alleged that between February 8, 2012 and March 18, 2013, Wong conspired with a programme worker of the elderly centre to defraud the Yuen Long DC of meal allowances totalling $10,150 in relation to three events organised by the elderly centre.
Another charge alleged that between March 5, 2012 and March 25, 2013, Wong and Yip conspired together to defraud the Yuen Long DC of meal allowances totalling $6,090 in relation to two events organised by the elderly centre.
The remaining charge alleged that between March 3, 2012 and March 25, 2013, Wong, Yip, Cheung Hau-leung and Cheung Ching-nga conspired together to defraud the Yuen Long DC of printing allowances totalling $2,700 in relation to nine events organised by the elderly centre.
The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000.
The Yuen Long DC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Eric Siu.