Senior officer of FSD in court for MIPO over handling of seized dangerous goods and other properties
2018-5-11
A Senior Station Officer (SSO) of the Fire Services Department (FSD) appeared in the West Kowloon Magistracy today (May 11) after being charged by the ICAC with misconduct in public office (MIPO) for falsely representing to the FSD that he had properly disposed seized dangerous goods and other properties, and returned them to the owner.
Patrick Ho Dik-hei, 45, who was charged on Wednesday (May 9), faced a charge of MIPO, contrary to Common Law. He also faced an alternative charge of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Magistrate Mr Edward Wong Ching-yu adjourned the case to July 6 for plea or for a pre-trial review should the defendant elect not to plead guilty.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the FSD. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was a SSO of the FSD, who was tasked to handle a case in which properties, including dangerous goods, were found at an open area near Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market on July 30, 2013. After investigation, he seized those properties.
The MIPO charge alleged that between February 14 and June 25, 2014, the defendant, in the course of or in relation to his public office, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully and intentionally misconducted himself by:
(i) appropriating and disposing on or about April 24, 2014 the properties, namely 661 litres of fuel oil, 18 metal drums, one generator and two sets of pump/pipe/nozzle which were kept inside the Dangerous Goods Store in Shatin Fire Station in the custody of the FSD pending handover to the Police;
(ii) falsely representing on April 25, 2014 that the properties were handed over to a Police Constable of Cheung Sha Wan Police Station on the preceding day; and
(iii) falsely representing on later occasions that the properties were actually returned to the owner of those properties on April 24, 2014 and the owner signed on an official receipt to acknowledge receiving the properties from him.
The alternative charge alleged that on or about April 24, 2014, the defendant stole the above properties belonging to the FSD.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000, and ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The FSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Derek Cheung.
Patrick Ho Dik-hei, 45, who was charged on Wednesday (May 9), faced a charge of MIPO, contrary to Common Law. He also faced an alternative charge of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.
No plea was taken today. Magistrate Mr Edward Wong Ching-yu adjourned the case to July 6 for plea or for a pre-trial review should the defendant elect not to plead guilty.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the FSD. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was a SSO of the FSD, who was tasked to handle a case in which properties, including dangerous goods, were found at an open area near Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market on July 30, 2013. After investigation, he seized those properties.
The MIPO charge alleged that between February 14 and June 25, 2014, the defendant, in the course of or in relation to his public office, without reasonable excuse or justification, wilfully and intentionally misconducted himself by:
(i) appropriating and disposing on or about April 24, 2014 the properties, namely 661 litres of fuel oil, 18 metal drums, one generator and two sets of pump/pipe/nozzle which were kept inside the Dangerous Goods Store in Shatin Fire Station in the custody of the FSD pending handover to the Police;
(ii) falsely representing on April 25, 2014 that the properties were handed over to a Police Constable of Cheung Sha Wan Police Station on the preceding day; and
(iii) falsely representing on later occasions that the properties were actually returned to the owner of those properties on April 24, 2014 and the owner signed on an official receipt to acknowledge receiving the properties from him.
The alternative charge alleged that on or about April 24, 2014, the defendant stole the above properties belonging to the FSD.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000, and ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.
The FSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Derek Cheung.