Retired Senior Assistant of ImmD charged by ICAC with using false documents to apply for $260,000 salary advance by concealing outstanding loans
2024-9-11
The ICAC today (September 11) charged a retired Senior Immigration Assistant of the Immigration Department (ImmD) with offences under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) for allegedly using application forms containing false statements on nine occasions to conceal his outstanding loans with financial institutions and to obtain salary advance of $260,000 over a span of 12 years during his tenure.
Chan Wing-ko, 52, retired Senior Immigration Assistant of the ImmD, faces nine counts of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the POBO. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (September 13) for plea.
The defendant was employed by the ImmD in February 1994 and was later promoted to Senior Immigration Assistant. He retired in August 2023. During his tenure, the defendant was entitled to make applications for salary advance under the Civil Service Regulations to meet expenses on marriage, funeral and relocation purposes, etc., but he was required to declare his financial liabilities in the application form. In reviewing the applications, the ImmD would consider the financial situation of an applicant and would recommend to the Treasury for approving applications for salary advance.
It is alleged that on nine occasions between October 2008 and January 2020, the defendant used application forms for salary advance which contained false statements to mislead the ImmD. The defendant allegedly made false representations that the information in the form was true and complete, and that he had no liabilities owed to any financial institution.
The ICAC investigation revealed that when the defendant made the nine applications for salary advance, he had outstanding loans with various financial institutions, ranging from about $220,000 to $520,000 on each of the occasions. However, the defendant had never declared the debts to the ImmD. Eight of his applications for salary advance were approved, involving a total sum of over $260,000, each ranged from about $28,000 to over $40,000.
Had the ImmD known that the defendant’s application forms contained false information, it would not have recommended his applications to the Treasury.
The ImmD and the Treasury rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Chan Wing-ko, 52, retired Senior Immigration Assistant of the ImmD, faces nine counts of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the POBO. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (September 13) for plea.
The defendant was employed by the ImmD in February 1994 and was later promoted to Senior Immigration Assistant. He retired in August 2023. During his tenure, the defendant was entitled to make applications for salary advance under the Civil Service Regulations to meet expenses on marriage, funeral and relocation purposes, etc., but he was required to declare his financial liabilities in the application form. In reviewing the applications, the ImmD would consider the financial situation of an applicant and would recommend to the Treasury for approving applications for salary advance.
It is alleged that on nine occasions between October 2008 and January 2020, the defendant used application forms for salary advance which contained false statements to mislead the ImmD. The defendant allegedly made false representations that the information in the form was true and complete, and that he had no liabilities owed to any financial institution.
The ICAC investigation revealed that when the defendant made the nine applications for salary advance, he had outstanding loans with various financial institutions, ranging from about $220,000 to $520,000 on each of the occasions. However, the defendant had never declared the debts to the ImmD. Eight of his applications for salary advance were approved, involving a total sum of over $260,000, each ranged from about $28,000 to over $40,000.
Had the ImmD known that the defendant’s application forms contained false information, it would not have recommended his applications to the Treasury.
The ImmD and the Treasury rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.