Ex-contract employee of WFSFAA charged by ICAC over false attendance wage fraud
2025-4-24
A former contract staff member employed by an intermediary to work at the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA) appeared at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (April 24) for mention after being charged by the ICAC for allegedly falsifying his attendance records to defraud the intermediary of salary payments totalling over $32,000.
Cheng Chung-ming, 34, formerly employed by AR Solution Limited (ARL) as contract Senior Executive Assistant for the WFSFAA, was charged on Tuesday (April 22) with one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Leung Ka-kie adjourned the case to May 29 for plea. The defendant was allowed bail.
According to the employment contract signed between the defendant and ARL, except for the seven-day annual leave and three-day paid sick leave each month he entitled to, all other leave days were unpaid and salary of the defendant would be deducted accordingly.
The charge alleged that between June 2022 and August 2024, the defendant falsely represented to the staff members of the WFSFAA or ARL that he had attended work when in fact he was on leave, and with intent to defraud, induced ARL to make salary payments totalling over $32,000 to him.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint referred by the WFSFAA in relation to the attendance of the defendant. The defendant had altered his monthly timesheets submitted to ARL because he did not want a salary deduction in view of his inadequate leave balance.
The WFSFAA and ARL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Cheng Chung-ming, 34, formerly employed by AR Solution Limited (ARL) as contract Senior Executive Assistant for the WFSFAA, was charged on Tuesday (April 22) with one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Leung Ka-kie adjourned the case to May 29 for plea. The defendant was allowed bail.
According to the employment contract signed between the defendant and ARL, except for the seven-day annual leave and three-day paid sick leave each month he entitled to, all other leave days were unpaid and salary of the defendant would be deducted accordingly.
The charge alleged that between June 2022 and August 2024, the defendant falsely represented to the staff members of the WFSFAA or ARL that he had attended work when in fact he was on leave, and with intent to defraud, induced ARL to make salary payments totalling over $32,000 to him.
The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint referred by the WFSFAA in relation to the attendance of the defendant. The defendant had altered his monthly timesheets submitted to ARL because he did not want a salary deduction in view of his inadequate leave balance.
The WFSFAA and ARL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.