Ex-enumerator sentenced for fraud over ICAC annual survey
2015-1-13
A former part-time enumerator of a marketing research company was today (Tuesday) sentenced at the Eastern Magistracy for fraud and attempted fraud by using 2013 ICAC Annual Survey questionnaires containing false information to deceive remuneration from the company.
Hsu Shui-pang, 40, a former part-time enumerator of MVA Hong Kong Limited (MVA), was ordered by Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak to perform 200 hours of community service.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said he imposed a community service order on the defendant after taking into account his guilty plea and his repayment of $450 to MVA.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to 12 charges - nine of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; and three of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences of fraud and attempted fraud.
The court heard that at the material time, MVA was engaged by the ICAC's Community Relations Department to conduct its 2013 annual survey on the public's perception of corruption.
As a part-time enumerator of MVA, the defendant was required to conduct face-to-face interviews with household members randomly selected from the database of the Census and Statistics Department.
The defendant was paid at the rate of $100 per completed questionnaire. If a particular questionnaire was unable to pass the quality control of MVA, half of the remuneration in respect of that particular questionnaire would be deducted.
The court heard that between October and November 2013, the defendant fabricated nine questionnaires, which purported that he had conducted the interviews with the respective household members and obtained the information as recorded in the questionnaires.
As the nine questionnaires could not pass the quality control of MVA, the defendant was paid a total of $450 only as half of his remuneration was deducted.
The court heard that the defendant also submitted to MVA two questionnaires in October and November 2013 respectively, which pretended that the respective respondents should have the next birthday closest to the date of the interview.
In November 2013, the defendant further submitted to MVA a questionnaire pretending that the age of the respondent was within targeted age range of 15 to 64.
In view of the falsity of the questionnaires, MVA had withheld the relevant remuneration.
The questionnaires in issue were subsequently eliminated from the survey without affecting the validity of its data collected and overall survey findings, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Liu Yuen-ming, assisted by ICAC officer Andrew Ho.
Hsu Shui-pang, 40, a former part-time enumerator of MVA Hong Kong Limited (MVA), was ordered by Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak to perform 200 hours of community service.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said he imposed a community service order on the defendant after taking into account his guilty plea and his repayment of $450 to MVA.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to 12 charges - nine of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; and three of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences of fraud and attempted fraud.
The court heard that at the material time, MVA was engaged by the ICAC's Community Relations Department to conduct its 2013 annual survey on the public's perception of corruption.
As a part-time enumerator of MVA, the defendant was required to conduct face-to-face interviews with household members randomly selected from the database of the Census and Statistics Department.
The defendant was paid at the rate of $100 per completed questionnaire. If a particular questionnaire was unable to pass the quality control of MVA, half of the remuneration in respect of that particular questionnaire would be deducted.
The court heard that between October and November 2013, the defendant fabricated nine questionnaires, which purported that he had conducted the interviews with the respective household members and obtained the information as recorded in the questionnaires.
As the nine questionnaires could not pass the quality control of MVA, the defendant was paid a total of $450 only as half of his remuneration was deducted.
The court heard that the defendant also submitted to MVA two questionnaires in October and November 2013 respectively, which pretended that the respective respondents should have the next birthday closest to the date of the interview.
In November 2013, the defendant further submitted to MVA a questionnaire pretending that the age of the respondent was within targeted age range of 15 to 64.
In view of the falsity of the questionnaires, MVA had withheld the relevant remuneration.
The questionnaires in issue were subsequently eliminated from the survey without affecting the validity of its data collected and overall survey findings, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Liu Yuen-ming, assisted by ICAC officer Andrew Ho.