Police Chief Telecommunications Engineer sentenced for deceiving government of $1.9m housing loan and allowances
2018-3-15
The Chief Telecommunications Engineer of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), charged by the ICAC, was today (March 15) sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, at the Eastern Magistracy for using a false document to mislead the government into granting him a downpayment loan and home financing allowances totalling over $1.9 million.
Wong Chun-kau, 58, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent using a false document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Cheung Kit-yee said senior officials having defrauded the government of housing loans and allowances normally deserved custodial sentences.
The magistrate added that she meted out a suspended sentence to the defendant after taking into account his guilty plea, his full repayment made to the government, and other mitigating factors.
The case arose from a complaint referred by the Treasury. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that the defendant, who joined the Royal Hong Kong Police Force (later renamed the HKPF) in 1981, is currently the Chief Telecommunications Officer of the HKPF.
At the material time, the defendant was a Telecommunications Engineer of the HKPF, and was eligible to join the Home Financing Scheme (HFS). He got married in the United States of America on August 11, 1994.
According to the HFS, an officer and his/her spouse may not receive more than one housing benefit at any one time irrespective of whether the benefit is provided by the government or private employers.
On September 8, 1997, the defendant applied to the Treasury for a downpayment loan for purchasing a property in Yuen Long, and a monthly home financing allowance to repay the mortgage loan of the property.
In support of the application, the defendant submitted to the Treasury documents, including a “Statement on Housing and Housing Related Benefits Received by an Officer/His Spouse”.
In the statement, the defendant falsely declared his marital status as “single” and filled in “N/A” (not applicable) in a column concerning particulars of his spouse. The defendant also deliberately omitted to provide any information about housing benefits received by his wife from her employer, namely a bank.
The defendant concealed the facts that he had got married and his wife had obtained a low interest housing loan from her employer, thereby misleading the government into granting him a downpayment loan and home financing allowances totalling over $1.9 million under the HFS.
The Treasury and the HKPF had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Peggy Leung, assisted by ICAC officer Eric Yong.
Wong Chun-kau, 58, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent using a false document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Cheung Kit-yee said senior officials having defrauded the government of housing loans and allowances normally deserved custodial sentences.
The magistrate added that she meted out a suspended sentence to the defendant after taking into account his guilty plea, his full repayment made to the government, and other mitigating factors.
The case arose from a complaint referred by the Treasury. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that the defendant, who joined the Royal Hong Kong Police Force (later renamed the HKPF) in 1981, is currently the Chief Telecommunications Officer of the HKPF.
At the material time, the defendant was a Telecommunications Engineer of the HKPF, and was eligible to join the Home Financing Scheme (HFS). He got married in the United States of America on August 11, 1994.
According to the HFS, an officer and his/her spouse may not receive more than one housing benefit at any one time irrespective of whether the benefit is provided by the government or private employers.
On September 8, 1997, the defendant applied to the Treasury for a downpayment loan for purchasing a property in Yuen Long, and a monthly home financing allowance to repay the mortgage loan of the property.
In support of the application, the defendant submitted to the Treasury documents, including a “Statement on Housing and Housing Related Benefits Received by an Officer/His Spouse”.
In the statement, the defendant falsely declared his marital status as “single” and filled in “N/A” (not applicable) in a column concerning particulars of his spouse. The defendant also deliberately omitted to provide any information about housing benefits received by his wife from her employer, namely a bank.
The defendant concealed the facts that he had got married and his wife had obtained a low interest housing loan from her employer, thereby misleading the government into granting him a downpayment loan and home financing allowances totalling over $1.9 million under the HFS.
The Treasury and the HKPF had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Peggy Leung, assisted by ICAC officer Eric Yong.