Then Senior Customs Officer charged by ICAC for using outside work application form with false information to mislead C&E
2025-3-17
The ICAC today (March 17) charged a then Senior Customs Officer of the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) for allegedly using an application form containing false information to mislead the C&E that she did not perform any outside work over a span of one year. The offence was uncovered in an investigation by the ICAC, following receipt of a corruption complaint referred by the C&E.
Carol Li Kwai-wa, 42, faces one count of agent using a document containing false statement with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. She was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (March 19) for plea.
According to the Civil Service Regulations, all civil servants are required to obtain prior approval from the department for performing any paid outside work.
One of the charges alleges that the defendant had used an application form containing false statement when applying for performing outside work of the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) to the C&E in March 2022. She allegedly misled the C&E by claiming in the form that she did not perform any outside work over a span of one year before filing the application.
The ICAC investigation revealed that, prior to filing of the application, the defendant had performed paid outside duties of the AMS on various occasions between mid-2021 and early 2022, and thereby received wages totalling over $100,000.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the C&E implemented the home standby duty arrangement, under which officers on such duty were not allowed to perform any outside work, or otherwise be considered absent from duty.
Another charge alleges that, between February 2020 and January 2021, the defendant falsely represented to the C&E that she had performed home standby duty on 28 occasions, and with intent to defraud the C&E to not deducting her salary payments of a total sum of over $19,000. The ICAC investigation revealed that during the period, the defendant had performed paid outside duties of the AMS without applying for leave with the C&E and received wages totalling over $8,800.
The C&E and the AMS rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Carol Li Kwai-wa, 42, faces one count of agent using a document containing false statement with intent to deceive her principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. She was released on ICAC bail, pending her appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (March 19) for plea.
According to the Civil Service Regulations, all civil servants are required to obtain prior approval from the department for performing any paid outside work.
One of the charges alleges that the defendant had used an application form containing false statement when applying for performing outside work of the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) to the C&E in March 2022. She allegedly misled the C&E by claiming in the form that she did not perform any outside work over a span of one year before filing the application.
The ICAC investigation revealed that, prior to filing of the application, the defendant had performed paid outside duties of the AMS on various occasions between mid-2021 and early 2022, and thereby received wages totalling over $100,000.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the C&E implemented the home standby duty arrangement, under which officers on such duty were not allowed to perform any outside work, or otherwise be considered absent from duty.
Another charge alleges that, between February 2020 and January 2021, the defendant falsely represented to the C&E that she had performed home standby duty on 28 occasions, and with intent to defraud the C&E to not deducting her salary payments of a total sum of over $19,000. The ICAC investigation revealed that during the period, the defendant had performed paid outside duties of the AMS without applying for leave with the C&E and received wages totalling over $8,800.
The C&E and the AMS rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.