CSD Instructor and six others charged with fraud over bogus prison visits
2016-10-12
An Instructor of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) and six other persons have been charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud the CSD in relation to bogus prison visits, while the Instructor also faces alternative charges of misconduct in public office.
The defendants, who were charged yesterday (Tuesday) in two cases, are Leung Ngan-lam, 36, Instructor of the CSD; Chan Yee-lap, 46, Au Yeung Tin-lun, 53, Lau Lap-fan, 59, and Yau Sai-seung, 50, all former prisoners of Tong Fuk Correctional Institution (TFCI); Kelly Kuswati Dewi, 47, and Wong Sau-yu, 30, both housewives.
The cases arose from a corruption complaint referred by the CSD. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the alleged offences concerned.
In the first case, Leung Ngan-lam and Chan Yee-lap face five joint charges of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law, four of which were jointly charged with Au Yeung Tin-lun, Lau Lap-fan, Kelly Kuswati Dewi and Yau Sai-seung respectively. Leung alone further faces two alternative charges of misconduct in public office, contrary to Common Law.
The defendants will appear in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy tomorrow (Thursday) for transfer to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, Leung, an Instructor of the CSD posted to the metal workshop of TFCI, was tasked to teach prisoners to make iron products. Chan, Au Yeung, Lau and Yau were then prisoners of TFCI, while Dewi was a housewife.
The five charges allege that between September 23, 2013 and July 24, 2014, the defendants conspired together and with other persons to defraud the CSD by arranging Dewi and other persons to visit five then prisoners of TFCI, including Au Yeung, Lau and Yau, in their false capacities as the prisoners’ relatives or friends.
As a result, the defendants allegedly caused officers of the CSD to approve release of cash totalling $36,500 from the properties of the prisoners concerned to their respective visitors.
The alternative charges allege that between September 25, 2013 and July 10, 2014, Leung, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully misconducted himself by sending 18 letters of Chan and another prisoner of TFCI to two persons, and causing and facilitating other persons to visit Au Yeung, Lau, Yau and two other prisoners in the false capacities as their relatives or friends so that the visitors could retrieve cash from the properties of the prisoners kept under the custody of the CSD.
In the second case, Wong Sau-yu faces one count of conspiracy to defraud. She will appear in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy tomorrow (Thursday) for plea.
The charge alleges that between March 25 and April 11, 2014, Wong conspired with a then prisoner of TFCI to defraud the CSD by falsely representing that she was a friend of the prisoner, causing her to visit the prisoner, and causing officers of the CSD to prepare a declaration and a power of attorney enabling her to retrieve the bail money of $10,000 deposited with the Kowloon City Magistracy by the prisoner.
The CSD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants in the above two cases have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.
The defendants, who were charged yesterday (Tuesday) in two cases, are Leung Ngan-lam, 36, Instructor of the CSD; Chan Yee-lap, 46, Au Yeung Tin-lun, 53, Lau Lap-fan, 59, and Yau Sai-seung, 50, all former prisoners of Tong Fuk Correctional Institution (TFCI); Kelly Kuswati Dewi, 47, and Wong Sau-yu, 30, both housewives.
The cases arose from a corruption complaint referred by the CSD. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the alleged offences concerned.
In the first case, Leung Ngan-lam and Chan Yee-lap face five joint charges of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law, four of which were jointly charged with Au Yeung Tin-lun, Lau Lap-fan, Kelly Kuswati Dewi and Yau Sai-seung respectively. Leung alone further faces two alternative charges of misconduct in public office, contrary to Common Law.
The defendants will appear in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy tomorrow (Thursday) for transfer to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, Leung, an Instructor of the CSD posted to the metal workshop of TFCI, was tasked to teach prisoners to make iron products. Chan, Au Yeung, Lau and Yau were then prisoners of TFCI, while Dewi was a housewife.
The five charges allege that between September 23, 2013 and July 24, 2014, the defendants conspired together and with other persons to defraud the CSD by arranging Dewi and other persons to visit five then prisoners of TFCI, including Au Yeung, Lau and Yau, in their false capacities as the prisoners’ relatives or friends.
As a result, the defendants allegedly caused officers of the CSD to approve release of cash totalling $36,500 from the properties of the prisoners concerned to their respective visitors.
The alternative charges allege that between September 25, 2013 and July 10, 2014, Leung, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully misconducted himself by sending 18 letters of Chan and another prisoner of TFCI to two persons, and causing and facilitating other persons to visit Au Yeung, Lau, Yau and two other prisoners in the false capacities as their relatives or friends so that the visitors could retrieve cash from the properties of the prisoners kept under the custody of the CSD.
In the second case, Wong Sau-yu faces one count of conspiracy to defraud. She will appear in the Tsuen Wan Magistracy tomorrow (Thursday) for plea.
The charge alleges that between March 25 and April 11, 2014, Wong conspired with a then prisoner of TFCI to defraud the CSD by falsely representing that she was a friend of the prisoner, causing her to visit the prisoner, and causing officers of the CSD to prepare a declaration and a power of attorney enabling her to retrieve the bail money of $10,000 deposited with the Kowloon City Magistracy by the prisoner.
The CSD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants in the above two cases have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.