Consultant of HA in court for MIPO over purchase of surgical instrument
2018-1-12
A Consultant of the Hospital Authority (HA) appeared in the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (January 12) after being charged by the ICAC with misconduct in public office (MIPO) for falsely causing a patient to pay her $3,200 for purchasing a surgical instrument and misappropriating the money.
Choi Chi-yee, 44, who was charged on Wednesday (January 10), faced a charge of MIPO, contrary to Common Law. She also faced an alternative charge of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to February 20 this year for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was an Associate Consultant of the United Christian Hospital (UCH) under the HA.
The MIPO charge alleged that on February 11, 2016, the defendant, in the course of or in relation to her public office, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully and intentionally misconducted herself by:
(a) falsely representing to a patient that the patient had to pay a sum of $3,200 to a company for the purchase of an instrument which was required in a surgical operation conducted by her on the patient on that day;
(b) falsely representing to the patient that she could arrange for the delivery of the instrument from the company to the UCH on that day; and could help the patient to pass the cash of $3,200 to its staff member upon receipt of the instrument; and
(c) appropriating the cash of $3,200 provided to her by the patient.
The alternative charge alleged that on February 11, 2016, the defendant stole the cash of $3,200 belonging to the patient.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $3,000, and ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The HA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Ally Cheung.
Choi Chi-yee, 44, who was charged on Wednesday (January 10), faced a charge of MIPO, contrary to Common Law. She also faced an alternative charge of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to February 20 this year for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was an Associate Consultant of the United Christian Hospital (UCH) under the HA.
The MIPO charge alleged that on February 11, 2016, the defendant, in the course of or in relation to her public office, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully and intentionally misconducted herself by:
(a) falsely representing to a patient that the patient had to pay a sum of $3,200 to a company for the purchase of an instrument which was required in a surgical operation conducted by her on the patient on that day;
(b) falsely representing to the patient that she could arrange for the delivery of the instrument from the company to the UCH on that day; and could help the patient to pass the cash of $3,200 to its staff member upon receipt of the instrument; and
(c) appropriating the cash of $3,200 provided to her by the patient.
The alternative charge alleged that on February 11, 2016, the defendant stole the cash of $3,200 belonging to the patient.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $3,000, and ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The HA had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Ally Cheung.