Police Telecoms Chief Escapes Jail Over Fraud

The police force's chief telecommunications engineer has been spared jail after swindling the government out of HK$1.9 million in housing loans and allowances.

After admitting to using a false document to deceive the government, Wong Chun-kau, 58, was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Eastern Court heard that he applied for a down payment loan and monthly allowances for mortgage repayments under the government's Home Financing Scheme.

In his application in 1997, Wong falsely declared his marital status as "single", even though he had got married in 1994.

He was also found to have deliberately omitted information about the housing benefits received by his wife from her employer.

That was a violation of the policy forbidding civil servants and their spouses from receiving more than one type of housing benefit, whether it is provided by the government or private employers.

In passing sentence, magistrate Cheung Kit-yee said the defendant had shown remorse, and he had paid back the loan and allowances. The magistrate also noted the defendant's character and contribution to society.