Ex-assistant manager of green group admits $400,000 fraud over employment
2019-6-20
A former assistant manager of a green group, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Eastern Magistracy today (June 20) that he had used false academic and professional qualifications to deceive the organisation into offering him employment and paying him salaries totalling about $400,000.
Johnny Wong Kwok-leung, 58, former assistant manager of Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) Charity Limited (FoE(HK)), pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case until July 11 for sentence, pending background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that on February 13, 2017, the FoE(HK) placed an advertisement through a recruitment agency to recruit a project officer responsible for green financing under its corporate social responsibility branch. Candidates should possess finance or economics background.
On February 14, 2017, the defendant submitted his resume to the FoE(HK) through the recruitment agency to apply for the post. The resume showed that he held a Master Degree of Economics awarded by the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and an associate membership of The Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA).
Having considered his qualifications and performance at two interviews, the FoE(HK) suggested the defendant to assume the post of the head of the corporate social responsibility branch as he was overqualified for the post of project officer.
On May 4, 2017, the FoE(HK) employed the defendant as an assistant manager at a monthly salary of over $31,000. About a year later, the defendant tendered his resignation which took effect on June 7, 2018.
During his employment with the FoE(HK), the defendant received salary payments of about $400,000 in total, the court was told.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the HKBU did not offer any programme of Master of Economics, while the CICPA did not have any associate membership.
Had the FoE(HK) known that Wong’s qualifications were not true, it would not have offered employment to him.
The FoE(HK) had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Marco Tang.
Johnny Wong Kwok-leung, 58, former assistant manager of Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) Charity Limited (FoE(HK)), pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case until July 11 for sentence, pending background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that on February 13, 2017, the FoE(HK) placed an advertisement through a recruitment agency to recruit a project officer responsible for green financing under its corporate social responsibility branch. Candidates should possess finance or economics background.
On February 14, 2017, the defendant submitted his resume to the FoE(HK) through the recruitment agency to apply for the post. The resume showed that he held a Master Degree of Economics awarded by the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and an associate membership of The Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CICPA).
Having considered his qualifications and performance at two interviews, the FoE(HK) suggested the defendant to assume the post of the head of the corporate social responsibility branch as he was overqualified for the post of project officer.
On May 4, 2017, the FoE(HK) employed the defendant as an assistant manager at a monthly salary of over $31,000. About a year later, the defendant tendered his resignation which took effect on June 7, 2018.
During his employment with the FoE(HK), the defendant received salary payments of about $400,000 in total, the court was told.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the HKBU did not offer any programme of Master of Economics, while the CICPA did not have any associate membership.
Had the FoE(HK) known that Wong’s qualifications were not true, it would not have offered employment to him.
The FoE(HK) had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Marco Tang.