Integrity Focus
Recent ICAC Cases
Aug 2024Then manager of printing company charged by ICAC for arranging mother to be company staff and deceive wages valued over $400K
The ICAC today (August 14) charged a then manager of a printing company and his mother, for arranging for his mother to be the company’s temporary staff and falsely representing her working hours to deceive wages totalling over $400,000 in 18 consecutive months.
Fong Lung, 38, the then Service Delivery Management Manager of FUJIFILM Business Innovation Hong Kong Limited (FUJIFILM); and Cheung Lai-lin, 67, housewife, jointly face 18 counts of fraud, contrary to section 16(A) of the Theft Ordinance. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (August 16) for plea.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries subsequently revealed the alleged fraudulent claims. At the material time, Fong was a Service Delivery Management Manager of the FUJIFILM and was authorised to engage temporary staff to tackle the manpower shortage, through a human resources agency engaged by FUJIFILM.
In August 2021, Fong was alleged to have arranged Cheung to be employed by human resources agency at an hourly rate of $75. The agency then deployed Cheung to work in FUJIFILM.
The 18 charges alleged that the two defendants, between August 2021 to February 2023, in Hong Kong, by deceit, namely by falsely representing to FUJIFILM and a human resources agency that Cheung’s working timesheets and related invoices, for 18 consecutive months since August 2021, were genuine, and with intent to defraud, induced the mentioned companies to release related wage payments, which resulted in benefit to the two defendants or prejudice to the two companies.
ICAC investigation revealed that within the 18 months, Fong and Cheung falsely represented the total number of hours worked by Cheung were 5,700 hours and induced the aforesaid human resources agency to, in accordance with its policy, release wage payments of a total sum of over $400,000 to Cheung, and induced FUJIFILM released a total sum of around $500,000 as service fee to the aforesaid human resources agency. However, Cheung had never performed any duties in FUJIFILM at the material time.
FUJIFILM rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.