Casual worker jailed for HK$118,000 insurance fraud and making false reports
2019-4-18
A casual worker, charged by the ICAC, was today (April 18) sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for conspiracy and attempting to defraud four insurance companies of compensations amounting to over HK$118,000, and making false reports to the Police.
Tsang Hin-yeung, 29, earlier pleaded guilty to nine charges – three of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law; four of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance; and two of conspiracy to make a false report of commission of offence, contrary to Section 64(a) of the Police Force Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen reprimanded the defendant for premeditating the fraud, which lasted a long period of time, and abusing the trust placed on claimants by the insurance companies.
The principal magistrate said he reduced the starting point of 15 weeks in jail to eight weeks after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and the restitution he made to the insurance companies.
Upon the principal magistrate’s order, the defendant had repaid the insurance companies via court the restitution of over HK$23,600 that he received as compensations from those companies as a result of the false claims.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that Tsang and Chim Kwong-shun had known each other for 10 odd years.
In May 2014, Tsang took out a home insurance policy from Dah Sing Insurance Company (1976) Limited (Dah Sing). Upon Chim’s instructions, Tsang made two false reports to the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) that his bag was cut open somewhere in Hong Kong by an unidentified person and his properties were stolen.
With Chim’s assistance, Tsang filed two claims with Dah Sing by falsely representing that he had suffered property loss in Hong Kong, and asked for compensations totalling HK$11,650 and 25,480 Renminbi (about HK$31,850).
As a result, Tsang received compensations of HK$8,500 in total from Dah Sing, and paid Chim over HK$2,800 as rewards for his assistance in making the false claims.
The court heard that in September 2015, Tsang took out a home insurance policy from AXA General Insurance Hong Kong Limited (AXA). Chim suggested that Tsang make a false claim to AXA.
On the claim form, Tsang falsely represented that he had suffered property loss and asked for compensations of over HK$9,100 and 10,500 Renminbi (about HK$13,100). Believing that the claim was genuine, AXA paid about HK$18,000 as compensation to Tsang.
The court heard that between September 2015 and January 2017, Tsang took out four home or travel insurance policies from AXA, Bank of China Group Insurance Company Limited (BOC) and MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited (MSIG).
Tsang later filed four claims to the insurance companies for compensations of over HK$53,000 in total. On the claim forms, he falsely represented that he had suffered property loss in Shenzhen. To support his claims, Tsang also submitted to the insurance companies an explanatory statement on the purported lost incident, which was prepared by Chim. However, the four claims were rejected by the insurance companies.
Chim, 36, who was also charged by the ICAC for his role in the scam, earlier pleaded guilty to 11 charges – two of conspiracy to defraud, two of fraud and seven of attempted fraud. He has been remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department for sentence at the Eastern Magistracy on April 30.
The HKPF, Dah Sing, AXA, BOC and MSIG had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Justin Tung.
Tsang Hin-yeung, 29, earlier pleaded guilty to nine charges – three of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law; four of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance; and two of conspiracy to make a false report of commission of offence, contrary to Section 64(a) of the Police Force Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen reprimanded the defendant for premeditating the fraud, which lasted a long period of time, and abusing the trust placed on claimants by the insurance companies.
The principal magistrate said he reduced the starting point of 15 weeks in jail to eight weeks after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and the restitution he made to the insurance companies.
Upon the principal magistrate’s order, the defendant had repaid the insurance companies via court the restitution of over HK$23,600 that he received as compensations from those companies as a result of the false claims.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that Tsang and Chim Kwong-shun had known each other for 10 odd years.
In May 2014, Tsang took out a home insurance policy from Dah Sing Insurance Company (1976) Limited (Dah Sing). Upon Chim’s instructions, Tsang made two false reports to the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) that his bag was cut open somewhere in Hong Kong by an unidentified person and his properties were stolen.
With Chim’s assistance, Tsang filed two claims with Dah Sing by falsely representing that he had suffered property loss in Hong Kong, and asked for compensations totalling HK$11,650 and 25,480 Renminbi (about HK$31,850).
As a result, Tsang received compensations of HK$8,500 in total from Dah Sing, and paid Chim over HK$2,800 as rewards for his assistance in making the false claims.
The court heard that in September 2015, Tsang took out a home insurance policy from AXA General Insurance Hong Kong Limited (AXA). Chim suggested that Tsang make a false claim to AXA.
On the claim form, Tsang falsely represented that he had suffered property loss and asked for compensations of over HK$9,100 and 10,500 Renminbi (about HK$13,100). Believing that the claim was genuine, AXA paid about HK$18,000 as compensation to Tsang.
The court heard that between September 2015 and January 2017, Tsang took out four home or travel insurance policies from AXA, Bank of China Group Insurance Company Limited (BOC) and MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited (MSIG).
Tsang later filed four claims to the insurance companies for compensations of over HK$53,000 in total. On the claim forms, he falsely represented that he had suffered property loss in Shenzhen. To support his claims, Tsang also submitted to the insurance companies an explanatory statement on the purported lost incident, which was prepared by Chim. However, the four claims were rejected by the insurance companies.
Chim, 36, who was also charged by the ICAC for his role in the scam, earlier pleaded guilty to 11 charges – two of conspiracy to defraud, two of fraud and seven of attempted fraud. He has been remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department for sentence at the Eastern Magistracy on April 30.
The HKPF, Dah Sing, AXA, BOC and MSIG had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Justin Tung.