Following a corruption complaint referred by the Fire Services Department (FSD), an ICAC investigation revealed that a Senior Fireman borrowed a total of approximately $250,000 from four colleagues and a friend on the pretext that his father had been diagnosed with cancer. The defendant was today (May 5) sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts.

Wong Chin-sing, 36, interdicted Senior Fireman (Control) of the FSD, earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud and three counts of attempted fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.

In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Mr David Cheung Chi-wai remarked that immediate imprisonment was the only option as the defendant had defrauded multiple individuals and successfully obtained about $170,000. Considering the defendant’s guilty plea and partial repayment of the loans, the jail term was reduced to eight months.

The court heard that between August 2022 and February 2024, the defendant solicited loans from three Principal Firemen, a Station Officer and a friend. The defendant claimed that he needed to pay medical and medication fees for his father, who was allegedly diagnosed with cancer or other illnesses, deceiving the five individuals into lending him seven loans totalling approximately $170,000.

Meanwhile, the defendant also attempted to deceive one of the Principal Firemen into lending him three loans totalling $80,000 using the same pretexts, but his requests were rejected.

The ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant fabricated his father’s illness to borrow money.

The FSD rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was represented today by ICAC officer Tony Sze-To.