Ex-IO secretary in court for alleged breach of POBO by disclosing identity of person under ICAC probe
2017-11-13
A former secretary of the incorporated owners (IO) of a private residential estate appeared in the Tuen Mun Magistracy today (November 13) after being charged by the ICAC for allegedly breaching the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) by disclosing the identity of a person under investigation.
Ivan Ng Pui-wang, 41, former secretary of the IO of The Verdancy, who was charged last Thursday (November 9), faced four charges of disclosing the identity of a person being investigated, contrary to Section 30(1) of the POBO.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case until December 18 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was the secretary of the IO of The Verdancy, a private residential estate in Yuen Long.
One of the charges alleged that on January 7, 2017, the defendant, knowing or suspecting that an investigation in respect of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed under Part II of the POBO was taking place, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, disclosed to a flat owner of The Verdancy the identity of the subject person or the fact that the subject person was so subject or details of such investigation.
Two other charges alleged that on January 8, 2017, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, disclosed to two other flat owners of The Verdancy and two committee members of its IO on two occasions the identity of the subject person or the fact that the subject person was so subject or details of such investigation under the same circumstances.
The remaining charge alleged that on January 8, 2017, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, disclosed to the then chairlady of the IO of The Verdancy the fact that she was the subject of the investigation or details of such investigation under the same circumstances.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $6,000, and ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Stephen Leung.
Ivan Ng Pui-wang, 41, former secretary of the IO of The Verdancy, who was charged last Thursday (November 9), faced four charges of disclosing the identity of a person being investigated, contrary to Section 30(1) of the POBO.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case until December 18 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was the secretary of the IO of The Verdancy, a private residential estate in Yuen Long.
One of the charges alleged that on January 7, 2017, the defendant, knowing or suspecting that an investigation in respect of an offence alleged or suspected to have been committed under Part II of the POBO was taking place, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, disclosed to a flat owner of The Verdancy the identity of the subject person or the fact that the subject person was so subject or details of such investigation.
Two other charges alleged that on January 8, 2017, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, disclosed to two other flat owners of The Verdancy and two committee members of its IO on two occasions the identity of the subject person or the fact that the subject person was so subject or details of such investigation under the same circumstances.
The remaining charge alleged that on January 8, 2017, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, disclosed to the then chairlady of the IO of The Verdancy the fact that she was the subject of the investigation or details of such investigation under the same circumstances.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $6,000, and ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Stephen Leung.