Duo charged with bribery and illegal use of smartphones to obtain access to confidential information of HKDSE
2018-7-25
A tutor of a tutorial school and a then Marking Assistant of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) have been charged by the ICAC today (July 25) with bribery and illegally accessing their smartphones to send and receive confidential information about the 2017 English Language examination of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE).
Lau Koon-wah, 43, tutor of Modern Education (Hong Kong) Limited (Modern Education), and Seraph Wong Tsz-hin, 19, then Marking Assistant of HKEAA, face a joint charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In addition, Lau and Wong each face one count of access to computer with dishonest intent, contrary to Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the West Kowloon Magistracy on Friday (July 27) for plea.
At the material time, Lau was an English tutor of Modern Education, while Wong was a Marking Assistant hired by HKEAA to mark examination papers of the 2017 English Language examination of the HKDSE. Wong was also a former student of Modern Education, who had attended English tutorial classes taught by Lau.
The joint charge alleges that between April 17 and May 13, 2017, Lau and Wong conspired together for Wong to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept $1,000 from Lau as a reward for Wong disclosing to Lau the confidential information in relation to the English Language Paper Three: Listening and Integrated Skills of the HKDSE 2017 administered by HKEAA.
Another charge alleges that on April 21, 2017, Wong obtained access to a computer, namely the smartphone belonging to him, with a view to dishonest gain for himself.
The remaining charge alleges Lau of obtaining access to a computer, namely the smartphone belonging to him, on the same day for the same purpose.
ICAC enquiries revealed that Wong used his smartphone to send Lau confidential information about the above 2017 English Language examination of the HKDSE, and Lau received such confidential information 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 Friday.
Lau Koon-wah, 43, tutor of Modern Education (Hong Kong) Limited (Modern Education), and Seraph Wong Tsz-hin, 19, then Marking Assistant of HKEAA, face a joint charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In addition, Lau and Wong each face one count of access to computer with dishonest intent, contrary to Section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the West Kowloon Magistracy on Friday (July 27) for plea.
At the material time, Lau was an English tutor of Modern Education, while Wong was a Marking Assistant hired by HKEAA to mark examination papers of the 2017 English Language examination of the HKDSE. Wong was also a former student of Modern Education, who had attended English tutorial classes taught by Lau.
The joint charge alleges that between April 17 and May 13, 2017, Lau and Wong conspired together for Wong to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept $1,000 from Lau as a reward for Wong disclosing to Lau the confidential information in relation to the English Language Paper Three: Listening and Integrated Skills of the HKDSE 2017 administered by HKEAA.
Another charge alleges that on April 21, 2017, Wong obtained access to a computer, namely the smartphone belonging to him, with a view to dishonest gain for himself.
The remaining charge alleges Lau of obtaining access to a computer, namely the smartphone belonging to him, on the same day for the same purpose.
ICAC enquiries revealed that Wong used his smartphone to send Lau confidential information about the above 2017 English Language examination of the HKDSE, and Lau received such confidential information 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 Friday.