Ex-policeman Spared Jail Over Housing Benefit Fraud

A former police officer was given a suspended jail sentence on Thursday after pleading guilty to making a fraudulent housing benefit claim, allowing him to stay in the police quarters for 15 years.

Lee Tak-ming was found to have lied about his marital status and failed to declare that he had been divorced in 2005, which would make him ineligible to live in his Tsuen Wan quarters.

He remained in his flat until he left the force last July.

At a hearing at West Kowloon Magistracy, the defence said in mitigation that Lee failed to declare that he was divorced because he couldn't forget his former wife, who used to live there with him.

The defence also said he has shown symptoms of depression and is on medication.

Principal Magistrate Peter Law handed down a four-month jail term, suspended for one year.

He also told Lee to put his failed marriage behind him.