Then Police Sergeant charged by ICAC admits concealing debts in continued service application and credit union loan fraud
2025-1-23
A then Police Sergeant, charged by the ICAC, today (January 23) admitted at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts that he had applied for continued service beyond retirement age and deceived the Hong Kong Police Credit Union (HKPCU) into granting him a loan of over $60,000 by concealing his personal debts.
Lam Kong-lung, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Cheng Lim-chi adjourned the case to February 13 for sentence, pending the defendant’s community service order report, and granted him bail.
In April 2021, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) launched the “Continued Service of Police Officers Beyond Prescribed Retirement Age Scheme” (the Scheme) which aimed to allow for the prescribed retirement age for serving police officers at non-directorate level to be extended to 60. Each eligible officer was required to declare his financial position when applying for the Scheme, including one’s outstanding debts, records of bankruptcy and legally binding repayment agreements with creditors (Individual Voluntary Arrangement). As the financial position of an applicant may affect his or her work performance and conduct, it was one of the material particulars to be considered by the HKPF in respect of the application under the Scheme.
The court heard that the defendant applied for continued service under the Scheme in April 2021. He made a false declaration on the application form that he had no outstanding debts and had never been subject to any Individual Voluntary Arrangement.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant owed two financial institutions and the HKPCU about $240,000 in total and concealed his Individual Voluntary Arrangement record when he made the application under the Scheme.
The defendant also admitted that he had concealed his outstanding debts of about $710,000 in total to two finance institutions when he applied for a loan with the HKPCU in July 2018, which induced the HKPCU to grant him a loan of approximately $62,000.
The HKPF and the HKPCU had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Berek Fung.
The ICAC reminds civil servants and members of the public that section 9(3) of POBO stipulates that it is an offence for any agent, including an employee, to use a document containing a false statement with the intention to deceive his principal, such as his employer. Civil servants being government employees should strictly adhere to laws and regulations and exercise financial prudence to uphold integrity.
Lam Kong-lung, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Cheng Lim-chi adjourned the case to February 13 for sentence, pending the defendant’s community service order report, and granted him bail.
In April 2021, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) launched the “Continued Service of Police Officers Beyond Prescribed Retirement Age Scheme” (the Scheme) which aimed to allow for the prescribed retirement age for serving police officers at non-directorate level to be extended to 60. Each eligible officer was required to declare his financial position when applying for the Scheme, including one’s outstanding debts, records of bankruptcy and legally binding repayment agreements with creditors (Individual Voluntary Arrangement). As the financial position of an applicant may affect his or her work performance and conduct, it was one of the material particulars to be considered by the HKPF in respect of the application under the Scheme.
The court heard that the defendant applied for continued service under the Scheme in April 2021. He made a false declaration on the application form that he had no outstanding debts and had never been subject to any Individual Voluntary Arrangement.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant owed two financial institutions and the HKPCU about $240,000 in total and concealed his Individual Voluntary Arrangement record when he made the application under the Scheme.
The defendant also admitted that he had concealed his outstanding debts of about $710,000 in total to two finance institutions when he applied for a loan with the HKPCU in July 2018, which induced the HKPCU to grant him a loan of approximately $62,000.
The HKPF and the HKPCU had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Berek Fung.
The ICAC reminds civil servants and members of the public that section 9(3) of POBO stipulates that it is an offence for any agent, including an employee, to use a document containing a false statement with the intention to deceive his principal, such as his employer. Civil servants being government employees should strictly adhere to laws and regulations and exercise financial prudence to uphold integrity.