Ex-technician jailed for EMSD salary fraud
2018-11-5
A former technician of an air-conditioning contractor of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), charged by the ICAC, was today (November 5) sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment at the Tuen Mun Magistracy for defrauding the EMSD of salary payments totalling over $10,000 by using false attendance records.
Shum Chi-sun, 66, former technician of Lucky Engineering Company Limited (LECL), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Ivy Chui Yee-mei said the fraud committed by the defendant was serious in nature as it lasted for a long period of time.
The magistrate also said she reduced the starting point of six weeks in jail to four weeks after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea, clear record and positive background report.
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 a technician of LECL, a contractor of the EMSD providing air-conditioning maintenance services at a number of municipal venues in the New Territories, including the Tuen Mun Town Hall (TMTH).
The defendant, who was posted to TMTH, was required to work on a shift basis and clock his own attendance cards when reporting on and off duty.
The court heard that between January 25, 2014 and November 19, 2016, Shum and a supervisor of LECL, together with other persons, dishonestly made false entries in the attendance cards of LECL to falsely represent that Shum was on duty on 22 days at TMTH during the period.
They also submitted the attendance cards to the EMSD as supporting documents for calculation of Sham’s salary, and with intent to defraud, induced the EMSD to pay to LECL over $10,000 in total as his salary for those days.
The supervisor, who was also charged by the ICAC for his alleged roles in the case, will take plea at the Tuen Mun Magistracy on November 30.
The EMSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Alpha Chu.
Shum Chi-sun, 66, former technician of Lucky Engineering Company Limited (LECL), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Ivy Chui Yee-mei said the fraud committed by the defendant was serious in nature as it lasted for a long period of time.
The magistrate also said she reduced the starting point of six weeks in jail to four weeks after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea, clear record and positive background report.
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 a technician of LECL, a contractor of the EMSD providing air-conditioning maintenance services at a number of municipal venues in the New Territories, including the Tuen Mun Town Hall (TMTH).
The defendant, who was posted to TMTH, was required to work on a shift basis and clock his own attendance cards when reporting on and off duty.
The court heard that between January 25, 2014 and November 19, 2016, Shum and a supervisor of LECL, together with other persons, dishonestly made false entries in the attendance cards of LECL to falsely represent that Shum was on duty on 22 days at TMTH during the period.
They also submitted the attendance cards to the EMSD as supporting documents for calculation of Sham’s salary, and with intent to defraud, induced the EMSD to pay to LECL over $10,000 in total as his salary for those days.
The supervisor, who was also charged by the ICAC for his alleged roles in the case, will take plea at the Tuen Mun Magistracy on November 30.
The EMSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Alpha Chu.