A regional director of an insurance company appeared in the Eastern Magistracy today (December 22) after being charged by the ICAC with defrauding the company of about $30,000 in commissions by falsely representing that her husband was the handling agent of two insurance policies.

Patrina Li Pui-ying, 55, regional director of Prudential Hong Kong Limited (Prudential), who was charged on Tuesday (December 20), faced two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming adjourned the case to January 19 next year for a pre-trial review.

The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.

At the material time, the defendant was a regional director of Prudential. Her husband was a down-line agent working together with her in the same team.

The charges alleged that on November 15 and December 22, 2011, the defendant falsely represented to Prudential that her husband was the handling insurance consultant for two insurance policies underwritten by the company respectively.

It was alleged that with intent to defraud, the defendant induced Prudential to underwrite and issue the insurance policies and to pay commissions or other payments in relation to the policies, which resulted in benefit to the defendant and her husband or in prejudice to Prudential.

As a result, the commissions allegedly defrauded by the defendant and her husband were said to amount to about $30,000.

The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000.

Prudential had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Hazel Cheng.