Ex-Senior Electrical and Mechanical Engineer of EMSD charged by ICAC admits accepting $360,000 unauthorised loans from subordinates
2024-10-28
A former Senior Electrical and Mechanical Engineer of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), earlier charged by the ICAC, today (October 28) admitted at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts that he had accepted unauthorised loans totalling over $360,000 from four subordinates in breach of the anti-bribery law.
Chan Kar-keung, 50, former Senior Electrical and Mechanical Engineer of the EMSD, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Chief Magistrate Mr So Wai-tak adjourned the case to November 11 for sentence, pending the defendant’s background report, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that the defendant joined the EMSD in 1998 and was promoted to Senior Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in 2014. At the material time, he was posted to the Municipal Sector (HK) Sub-Division of the EMSD.
The defendant admitted that on various occasions between September 2022 and February 2023, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, he had accepted 10 loans totalling over $360,000 from four subordinates.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that on different occasions within half a year, the defendant represented to the four subordinates that he was required to borrow money to meet urgent needs in view of his relatives’ emergency situations. Individual loan ranged from $10,000 to $150,000.
However, investigation revealed that the defendant had only repaid about $50,000 to one of the subordinates and he had never made any repayment to the three other subordinates. The defendant resigned and left the EMSD in May 2023.
The EMSD rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kelvin Wong.
The ICAC reminds civil servants to uphold integrity and exercise financial prudence at all times. Civil servants should strictly adhere to the POBO provisions in relation to the acceptance of advantages, including loans. Any civil servant who illegally solicits or accepts loans from subordinates might be prosecuted.
Chan Kar-keung, 50, former Senior Electrical and Mechanical Engineer of the EMSD, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of prescribed officer accepting an advantage, contrary to section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Chief Magistrate Mr So Wai-tak adjourned the case to November 11 for sentence, pending the defendant’s background report, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that the defendant joined the EMSD in 1998 and was promoted to Senior Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in 2014. At the material time, he was posted to the Municipal Sector (HK) Sub-Division of the EMSD.
The defendant admitted that on various occasions between September 2022 and February 2023, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive, he had accepted 10 loans totalling over $360,000 from four subordinates.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that on different occasions within half a year, the defendant represented to the four subordinates that he was required to borrow money to meet urgent needs in view of his relatives’ emergency situations. Individual loan ranged from $10,000 to $150,000.
However, investigation revealed that the defendant had only repaid about $50,000 to one of the subordinates and he had never made any repayment to the three other subordinates. The defendant resigned and left the EMSD in May 2023.
The EMSD rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Kelvin Wong.
The ICAC reminds civil servants to uphold integrity and exercise financial prudence at all times. Civil servants should strictly adhere to the POBO provisions in relation to the acceptance of advantages, including loans. Any civil servant who illegally solicits or accepts loans from subordinates might be prosecuted.