Integrity Focus

A former employee of a publishing firm, charged by the ICAC with fraud and offences under the anti-bribery law, was today (December 1) sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment at the District Court for deceiving the firm into making service payments totalling about $380,000 to various contractors by fabricating invoices in relation to the republication of books and the relocation works of the firm. The offences were revealed in the course of a corruption investigation by the Commission.

Hung Cheung-wai, 49, former employee of Chinese Baptist Press (International) Limited (CBP), earlier pleaded guilty to eight charges – four of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; two of agent using document with intent to deceive his principal and two of conspiracy for agent to use document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to Section 9(3) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

In sentencing, Deputy District Judge Mr Newman Wong Hing-wai said the case involved offences which were serious in nature. The defendant had used various false invoices over a long period, constituting a breach of trust.

The court heard that between February 2020 and June 2021, the defendant was an employee of CBP. He was responsible for arranging the production and republication of books, and placing printing and design orders with contractors.

During the period, CBP records showed that there were 61 invoices in relation to 78 republished books which were issued to CBP by four contractors. The defendant falsely represented to CBP that the four contractors had completed the editing, typesetting, proofreading and design works of books. As a result, CBP made payments totalling about $340,000 to the four contractors.

The court also heard that the defendant conspired with another contractor to use two sets of false invoices and payment request forms to mislead CBP that the contractor was entitled to service fees totalling $27,000 for completing the printing and typesetting works of three other books.

At the material time, the defendant was also responsible for supervising CBP’s relocation works. He used two sets of false invoices to mislead CBP that one of the abovementioned contractors was entitled to service fees totalling $11,000 as it had conducted relocation works for CBP on two occasions.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the five contractors did not conduct any republication or relocation works for CBP. The operators of four of the contractors were in fact a relative and three friends of the defendant.

CBP had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Joey Lin, assisted by ICAC officer Rita Li.