Former Senior Police Constable charged by ICAC for allegedly accepting loans illegally and making false declaration in re-employment application
2024-8-29
The ICAC today (August 29) charged a former Senior Police Constable for allegedly obtaining loans of $16,000 without permission and making a false statement on a financial obligations declaration document when applying for re-employment by the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) after retirement, contravening the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Tang Chi-hang, 52, former Senior Police Constable, faces two counts of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to section 3 of POBO, and one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of POBO. The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on next Monday (September 2) for plea.
Two of the charges allege that between September and October 2022, the defendant accepted two loans of $8,000 each from a staff of a debt collection agent without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive.
Separately, on November 2, 2021, the defendant applied for early retirement and re-employment on agreement terms by the HKPF. Under the relevant scheme of HKPF, he was required to declare his financial obligations. At the material time, between 2017 and 2018, the defendant obtained three loans totalling $1.15million from three financial institutions, which were to be repaid in monthly instalments. The remaining charge alleges that the defendant, with intent to deceive his principal, used a declaration of financial obligation in the above application, which contained a false statement that he had no outstanding financial obligations, to mislead the HKPF. In fact, the defendant had outstanding debts totalling about $930,000 at that time owed to the three above-mentioned financial institutions.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HKPF, which rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds civil servants to uphold integrity and exercise financial prudence at all times. They should strictly adhere to POBO provisions in relation to the acceptance of advantages, including loans. The ICAC also stresses that civil servants are prohibited from accepting loans illegally.
Tang Chi-hang, 52, former Senior Police Constable, faces two counts of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to section 3 of POBO, and one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of POBO. The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on next Monday (September 2) for plea.
Two of the charges allege that between September and October 2022, the defendant accepted two loans of $8,000 each from a staff of a debt collection agent without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive.
Separately, on November 2, 2021, the defendant applied for early retirement and re-employment on agreement terms by the HKPF. Under the relevant scheme of HKPF, he was required to declare his financial obligations. At the material time, between 2017 and 2018, the defendant obtained three loans totalling $1.15million from three financial institutions, which were to be repaid in monthly instalments. The remaining charge alleges that the defendant, with intent to deceive his principal, used a declaration of financial obligation in the above application, which contained a false statement that he had no outstanding financial obligations, to mislead the HKPF. In fact, the defendant had outstanding debts totalling about $930,000 at that time owed to the three above-mentioned financial institutions.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HKPF, which rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC reminds civil servants to uphold integrity and exercise financial prudence at all times. They should strictly adhere to POBO provisions in relation to the acceptance of advantages, including loans. The ICAC also stresses that civil servants are prohibited from accepting loans illegally.