Ex-councillor assistant gets 18 months for $350,000 salary fraud
2018-9-6
A former part-time assistant to a member of the Wong Tai Sin District Council (DC), charged by the ICAC, was today (September 6) sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistracy after being convicted of conspiring with the DC member to defraud the Home Affairs Department (HAD) of reimbursement of salary payments totalling $350,000.
Galen Leung Wai-lun, 41, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Joseph To Ho-shing remarked that the defendant played a pivotal role in the conspiracy to defraud the HAD of reimbursement of salary payments. Hence, he had to mete out an immediate custodial sentence to the defendant to serve as a deterrent.
The magistrate said he reduced the starting point of 20 months in jail to 18 months after taking into account the defendant’s clear record and other mitigating factors.
The magistrate also dismissed the defendant’s application for bail pending appeal.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by Joe Chan Yim-kwong, a member of the Wong Tai Sin DC, as his part-time assistant to assist him in organising community activities.
Between January 2011 and August 2016, the defendant signed on 68 receipts to falsely represent that he received from Chan a monthly salary ranging from $3,500 to $7,000.
The court heard that the receipts of salary payment and relevant Operating Expenses Reimbursement application forms were submitted by Chan to the HAD for reimbursement.
As a result, the HAD was deceived into approving the applications and paying the defendant’s salary in a total sum of $350,000 into the bank account of Chan between January 2011 and August 2016.
The HAD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Henry Ma, assisted by ICAC officer Ellis Leung.
Galen Leung Wai-lun, 41, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.
In sentencing, Magistrate Joseph To Ho-shing remarked that the defendant played a pivotal role in the conspiracy to defraud the HAD of reimbursement of salary payments. Hence, he had to mete out an immediate custodial sentence to the defendant to serve as a deterrent.
The magistrate said he reduced the starting point of 20 months in jail to 18 months after taking into account the defendant’s clear record and other mitigating factors.
The magistrate also dismissed the defendant’s application for bail pending appeal.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by Joe Chan Yim-kwong, a member of the Wong Tai Sin DC, as his part-time assistant to assist him in organising community activities.
Between January 2011 and August 2016, the defendant signed on 68 receipts to falsely represent that he received from Chan a monthly salary ranging from $3,500 to $7,000.
The court heard that the receipts of salary payment and relevant Operating Expenses Reimbursement application forms were submitted by Chan to the HAD for reimbursement.
As a result, the HAD was deceived into approving the applications and paying the defendant’s salary in a total sum of $350,000 into the bank account of Chan between January 2011 and August 2016.
The HAD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Henry Ma, assisted by ICAC officer Ellis Leung.