YLDC member guilty of $147,000 salary payments fraud
2019-3-8
A member of the Yuen Long District Council (YLDC) was today (March 8) convicted at the Tuen Mun Magistracy of defrauding the Home Affairs Department (HAD) of reimbursement of his part-time assistant’s salary payments totalling $147,000.
Man Kwong-ming, 57, was found guilty of one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Magistrate Kelly Shui remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department until March 21 for sentence, pending a 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 member of the YLDC. He was entitled to apply for Operating Expenses Reimbursement (OER) which he incurred from executing his duties as a DC member. The claims were processed by the YLDC Secretariat administered by the HAD.
Between February 28, 2012 and June 29, 2016, the defendant falsely represented that a man was employed by him as a part-time assistant to distribute leaflets, post banners and posters, and assist in organising communal activities between January 1, 2012 and January 31, 2016.
The defendant submitted OER application forms and salary receipts to the HAD to evidence that he had paid a monthly salary to the man in a sum of $3,000 each month during that period.
The court heard that investigation revealed the man had never worked as a part-time assistant for the defendant. He had not signed on any of the salary receipts submitted by the defendant to the HAD. The signatures on the salary receipts were not his signatures.
Relying on the forms and salary receipts, the HAD had made reimbursement of the man’s salary to the defendant in a total sum of $147,000.
The HAD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kenny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Karson Li.
Man Kwong-ming, 57, was found guilty of one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Magistrate Kelly Shui remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department until March 21 for sentence, pending a 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 member of the YLDC. He was entitled to apply for Operating Expenses Reimbursement (OER) which he incurred from executing his duties as a DC member. The claims were processed by the YLDC Secretariat administered by the HAD.
Between February 28, 2012 and June 29, 2016, the defendant falsely represented that a man was employed by him as a part-time assistant to distribute leaflets, post banners and posters, and assist in organising communal activities between January 1, 2012 and January 31, 2016.
The defendant submitted OER application forms and salary receipts to the HAD to evidence that he had paid a monthly salary to the man in a sum of $3,000 each month during that period.
The court heard that investigation revealed the man had never worked as a part-time assistant for the defendant. He had not signed on any of the salary receipts submitted by the defendant to the HAD. The signatures on the salary receipts were not his signatures.
Relying on the forms and salary receipts, the HAD had made reimbursement of the man’s salary to the defendant in a total sum of $147,000.
The HAD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kenny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Karson Li.