Then doctor of Queen Elizabeth Hospital charged by ICAC sentenced for MIPO over controlled drugs prescriptions for personal use
2026-7-30
A then Associate Consultant of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), charged by the ICAC and convicted after trial of misconduct in public office (MIPO), was today (July 30) sentenced to 160 hours of community service at the District Court for prescribing excessive controlled drugs to his family members and patients on various occasions and misappropriating them for personal use over a span of five and a half years.
Lee Chi-leung, 51, was earlier found guilty after trial of two counts of MIPO, contrary to the Common Law.
In sentencing, Judge Mr Josiah Lam Wai-kuen noted that the offences committed by the defendant were not minor and that imprisonment would have been an appropriate penalty. However, taking into account various mitigating factors, including the defendant’s health condition, the low risk of reoffending following his resignation from the Hospital Authority (HA), and his remorse, a community service order was imposed on him.
The judge also ordered the defendant to pay the HA $20,000 as compensation, equivalent to the total value of the controlled drugs involved.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was an Associate Consultant posted to the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat of QEH under the HA, responsible for diagnosing and treating patients, and prescribing medications where necessary. The defendant had to comply with the code of conduct and other relevant regulations of the HA, and was not allowed to use supplies of the HA and draw drugs without authorisation.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HA. ICAC investigation revealed that between March 2015 and September 2020, the defendant made medical consultant appointments on over 100 occasions, using the identities of seven people including his parents, wife, children and domestic helper without their knowledge.
Through those fictitious appointments, the defendant prescribed more than a thousand doses of cough syrup and psychiatric medication for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which are controlled drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, and misappropriated those drugs for personal use after collecting them from hospital staff.
Meanwhile, the defendant prescribed excessive doses of cough syrup to two other patients, and asked them to return the excess prescription of cough syrup for his personal use.
The HA rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutors Timothy Chen, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Yun.
Lee Chi-leung, 51, was earlier found guilty after trial of two counts of MIPO, contrary to the Common Law.
In sentencing, Judge Mr Josiah Lam Wai-kuen noted that the offences committed by the defendant were not minor and that imprisonment would have been an appropriate penalty. However, taking into account various mitigating factors, including the defendant’s health condition, the low risk of reoffending following his resignation from the Hospital Authority (HA), and his remorse, a community service order was imposed on him.
The judge also ordered the defendant to pay the HA $20,000 as compensation, equivalent to the total value of the controlled drugs involved.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was an Associate Consultant posted to the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat of QEH under the HA, responsible for diagnosing and treating patients, and prescribing medications where necessary. The defendant had to comply with the code of conduct and other relevant regulations of the HA, and was not allowed to use supplies of the HA and draw drugs without authorisation.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HA. ICAC investigation revealed that between March 2015 and September 2020, the defendant made medical consultant appointments on over 100 occasions, using the identities of seven people including his parents, wife, children and domestic helper without their knowledge.
Through those fictitious appointments, the defendant prescribed more than a thousand doses of cough syrup and psychiatric medication for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which are controlled drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, and misappropriated those drugs for personal use after collecting them from hospital staff.
Meanwhile, the defendant prescribed excessive doses of cough syrup to two other patients, and asked them to return the excess prescription of cough syrup for his personal use.
The HA rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutors Timothy Chen, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Yun.