Four charged with illegal use of smartphones to obtain access to confidential information and questions of HKDSE
2018-6-4
A tutor of a tutorial school, a former Invigilator and two former Oral Examiners of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) have been charged by the ICAC today (June 4) for their alleged roles in illegally accessing their smartphones to send and receive confidential information and questions of the 2016 and 2017 Chinese language examinations of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE).
The defendants are Weslie Siao Chi-yung, 42, tutor of Modern Education (Hong Kong) Limited (Modern Education), his wife Tsai Ying-ying, 33, former Invigilator of HKEAA and tutor of Modern Education; Cheung Kwok-kuen, 43, and Ng Wang-leung, 43, both former Oral Examiners of HKEAA.
Siao and Cheung face a joint charge of conspiracy to obtain access to a computer with dishonest intent, contrary to Section 159A and Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance, while Siao and Ng jointly face a similar charge. Siao and Tsai also face a joint charge of obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent, contrary to Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the West Kowloon Magistracy on Wednesday (June 6) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by HKEAA. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, Siao and Tsai, a couple, were Chinese language tutors of Modern Education, while Tsai was nominated by a school related to Modern Education to serve as an Invigilator of the 2017 Chinese language examination of HKDSE. Cheung and Ng were appointed by HKEAA as Oral Examiners of the 2016 and 2017 Chinese language examinations of HKDSE respectively.
One of the charges alleges that between March 11 and 21, 2016, Siao and Cheung conspired together to obtain access to computers, namely their smartphones, with a view to dishonest gain for themselves or another.
Another charge alleges Siao and Ng of committing a similar offence in the period between March 1 and 9, 2017.
The remaining charge alleges that on April 5, 2017, Siao and Tsai obtained access to computers, namely their smartphones, with a view to dishonest gain for themselves or another.
ICAC enquiries revealed that Cheung and Tsai had allegedly used their smartphones to respectively send confidential questions of the 2016 and 2017 Chinese language examinations of HKDSE to Siao, while Ng was alleged to have used his smartphone to send Siao confidential information about a briefing session on the 2017 Chinese language examination of HKDSE. Siao had allegedly received such confidential information and questions on his smartphone accordingly.
HKEAA has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Wednesday.
The defendants are Weslie Siao Chi-yung, 42, tutor of Modern Education (Hong Kong) Limited (Modern Education), his wife Tsai Ying-ying, 33, former Invigilator of HKEAA and tutor of Modern Education; Cheung Kwok-kuen, 43, and Ng Wang-leung, 43, both former Oral Examiners of HKEAA.
Siao and Cheung face a joint charge of conspiracy to obtain access to a computer with dishonest intent, contrary to Section 159A and Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance, while Siao and Ng jointly face a similar charge. Siao and Tsai also face a joint charge of obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent, contrary to Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the West Kowloon Magistracy on Wednesday (June 6) for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by HKEAA. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, Siao and Tsai, a couple, were Chinese language tutors of Modern Education, while Tsai was nominated by a school related to Modern Education to serve as an Invigilator of the 2017 Chinese language examination of HKDSE. Cheung and Ng were appointed by HKEAA as Oral Examiners of the 2016 and 2017 Chinese language examinations of HKDSE respectively.
One of the charges alleges that between March 11 and 21, 2016, Siao and Cheung conspired together to obtain access to computers, namely their smartphones, with a view to dishonest gain for themselves or another.
Another charge alleges Siao and Ng of committing a similar offence in the period between March 1 and 9, 2017.
The remaining charge alleges that on April 5, 2017, Siao and Tsai obtained access to computers, namely their smartphones, with a view to dishonest gain for themselves or another.
ICAC enquiries revealed that Cheung and Tsai had allegedly used their smartphones to respectively send confidential questions of the 2016 and 2017 Chinese language examinations of HKDSE to Siao, while Ng was alleged to have used his smartphone to send Siao confidential information about a briefing session on the 2017 Chinese language examination of HKDSE. Siao had allegedly received such confidential information and questions on his smartphone accordingly.
HKEAA has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Wednesday.