HA operation assistant in court over bribes-for-employment
2017-7-28
An operation assistant of a public hospital under the Hospital Authority (HA) appeared in the Shatin Magistracy today (July 28) after being charged by the ICAC with soliciting and accepting bribes of $9,000 in total from two women for causing the hospital to treat their job applications favourably.
Wang Bo, 57, Operation Assistant IIIB of the HA, who was charged on Wednesday (July 26), faced two charges – one of public servant soliciting an advantage and one of public servant accepting an advantage, both contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant also faced two alternative charges – one of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and 159G of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Joseph To Ho-shing adjourned the case to September 8 this year for mention.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HA. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was employed by the HA as Operation Assistant IIIB posted to its Shatin Hospital. She was mainly responsible for cleaning wards at the hospital.
One of the charges alleged that on an unknown date in 2013, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, solicited $5,000 from a woman as a reward for causing or influencing those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat her application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably.
One of the alternative charges alleged that on the same day, the defendant falsely represented that she was in a position to cause or influence those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat that woman’s application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably, and with intent to defraud, attempted to induce her to part with a sum of $5,000, which resulted in prejudice to her.
Another charge alleged that between March 1 and August 31, 2015, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted $4,000 from another woman as a reward for causing or influencing those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat her application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably.
The remaining alternative charge alleged that during the same period, the defendant falsely represented that she was in a position to cause or influence those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat that woman’s application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably, and with intent to defraud, induced her to part with a total sum of $4,000, which resulted in prejudice to her.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $5,000. She was also ordered to surrender her travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, report to the Police twice a week, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The HA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Freddy Yip.
Wang Bo, 57, Operation Assistant IIIB of the HA, who was charged on Wednesday (July 26), faced two charges – one of public servant soliciting an advantage and one of public servant accepting an advantage, both contrary to Section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant also faced two alternative charges – one of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and 159G of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Joseph To Ho-shing adjourned the case to September 8 this year for mention.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HA. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was employed by the HA as Operation Assistant IIIB posted to its Shatin Hospital. She was mainly responsible for cleaning wards at the hospital.
One of the charges alleged that on an unknown date in 2013, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, solicited $5,000 from a woman as a reward for causing or influencing those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat her application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably.
One of the alternative charges alleged that on the same day, the defendant falsely represented that she was in a position to cause or influence those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat that woman’s application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably, and with intent to defraud, attempted to induce her to part with a sum of $5,000, which resulted in prejudice to her.
Another charge alleged that between March 1 and August 31, 2015, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted $4,000 from another woman as a reward for causing or influencing those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat her application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably.
The remaining alternative charge alleged that during the same period, the defendant falsely represented that she was in a position to cause or influence those in charge of staff recruitment at the hospital to treat that woman’s application for the job of Operation Assistant IIIB favourably, and with intent to defraud, induced her to part with a total sum of $4,000, which resulted in prejudice to her.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $5,000. She was also ordered to surrender her travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, report to the Police twice a week, and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The HA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Freddy Yip.