Family Of Three Jailed For HK$40mn Bonjour Fraud

A couple and their son have been sentenced to between six-and-a-half and 11 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding the cosmetics retailer Bonjour out of HK$40 million.

The High Court heard how Kiu Mei-ling, a human resources manager for the firm, and her son Ha Ting-pong, who was a deputy manager, channelled money into their personal accounts by inflating the salaries of current or former staff, as well as using other people's identities.

Some HK$27 million was also transferred to Kiu's husband, Ha Wai-shing, even though he had never worked for the company.

The trio began their scam in 2004 and it only came to light in March 2011 when another company manager noticed that a new member of staff appeared to be paid unusually well.

In sentencing, deputy judge Michael Lunn said the defendants lacked integrity and they had betrayed the company's trust.

The police welcomed the ruling, saying the jail sentences pose a strong deterrent effect.