Senior Station Officer of FSD admits soliciting and accepting $70,000 unauthorised loans
2019-2-21
A Senior Station Officer (SSO) of the Fire Services Department (FSD), charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Eastern Magistracy today (February 21) that he had solicited and accepted unauthorised loans totalling $70,000 from three subordinates.
Philome Ng Lun-kwong, 53, pleaded guilty to three charges – two of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, and one of prescribed officer soliciting and accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Cheng Lim-chi adjourned the case until March 8 for sentence, pending a community service order report. The defendant was granted bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a SSO of the FSD posted to its Marine and Off-shore Islands Division.
On March 30, 2017, the defendant solicited two loans of $30,000 each from two Senior Firemen who had worked under his direct supervision. The Senior Firemen refused the defendant’s solicitation.
On an unknown day in March 2017, the defendant solicited a loan of $10,000 from a Principal Fireman who was under his direct supervision. The Principal Fireman acceded to the defendant’s request and lent him $10,000. The loan was repaid by the defendant by cash after a few months.
The FSD confirmed that the defendant had neither sought the special permission nor being granted with any approval for him to solicit or accept the loans, the court was told.
The FSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Benjamin Ho.
Philome Ng Lun-kwong, 53, pleaded guilty to three charges – two of prescribed officer soliciting an advantage, and one of prescribed officer soliciting and accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Cheng Lim-chi adjourned the case until March 8 for sentence, pending a community service order report. The defendant was granted bail.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a SSO of the FSD posted to its Marine and Off-shore Islands Division.
On March 30, 2017, the defendant solicited two loans of $30,000 each from two Senior Firemen who had worked under his direct supervision. The Senior Firemen refused the defendant’s solicitation.
On an unknown day in March 2017, the defendant solicited a loan of $10,000 from a Principal Fireman who was under his direct supervision. The Principal Fireman acceded to the defendant’s request and lent him $10,000. The loan was repaid by the defendant by cash after a few months.
The FSD confirmed that the defendant had neither sought the special permission nor being granted with any approval for him to solicit or accept the loans, the court was told.
The FSD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Benjamin Ho.