Five more asylum seekers and torture claimants in court for $170,000 fraud over allowances
2016-7-15
Five more asylum seekers and torture claimants (ASTCs) appeared in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy today (Friday) after being charged by the ICAC with defrauding the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS) of government rental allowances and allowances on utilities charges totalling about $170,000 following the prosecution of six others.
Three of the defendants, who were charged on Wednesday (July 13) in three separate cases, were MD Ashik Ali, 33, Delwar, 41, and Shahidul Islam, 45; while two other defendants charged yesterday (July 14) in two separate cases were Abu Sama Salim and MD Johirul Islam, both 32.
MD Ashik Ali faced two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, while the remaining four defendants each faced a similar offence.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their respective charges today. Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong adjourned their cases to October 13 this year for pre-trial reviews, and granted them cash bail.
The cases arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
Since 2006, ISS, a non-governmental organisation, has been entrusted by the Social Welfare Department to provide assistance-in-kind, including rental allowances and allowances on utilities charges, to ASTCs.
The charges alleged that between March 18, 2010 and February 13, 2014, the defendants falsely represented to ISS that they had rented five premises in Fanling, the New Territories, from three landlords, and with intent to defraud, induced ISS to pay rental allowances and allowances on utilities charges in the total sum of about $170,000 into the bank accounts of the three landlords.
Apart from the above defendants, six others were earlier charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in similar fraud cases. Appearing in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy on Wednesday (July 13), they pleaded not guilty to their charges, and had their cases adjourned to October 13 this year for pre-trial reviews.
ISS has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution in the above five cases was today represented by ICAC officer Victor Lee.
Three of the defendants, who were charged on Wednesday (July 13) in three separate cases, were MD Ashik Ali, 33, Delwar, 41, and Shahidul Islam, 45; while two other defendants charged yesterday (July 14) in two separate cases were Abu Sama Salim and MD Johirul Islam, both 32.
MD Ashik Ali faced two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, while the remaining four defendants each faced a similar offence.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their respective charges today. Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong adjourned their cases to October 13 this year for pre-trial reviews, and granted them cash bail.
The cases arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
Since 2006, ISS, a non-governmental organisation, has been entrusted by the Social Welfare Department to provide assistance-in-kind, including rental allowances and allowances on utilities charges, to ASTCs.
The charges alleged that between March 18, 2010 and February 13, 2014, the defendants falsely represented to ISS that they had rented five premises in Fanling, the New Territories, from three landlords, and with intent to defraud, induced ISS to pay rental allowances and allowances on utilities charges in the total sum of about $170,000 into the bank accounts of the three landlords.
Apart from the above defendants, six others were earlier charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in similar fraud cases. Appearing in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy on Wednesday (July 13), they pleaded not guilty to their charges, and had their cases adjourned to October 13 this year for pre-trial reviews.
ISS has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution in the above five cases was today represented by ICAC officer Victor Lee.