Integrity Focus

A woman, her husband and a relative of them were earlier charged by the ICAC for defrauding the Social Welfare Department (SWD) of Traffic Accident Victim Assistance (TAVA) payments and insurance companies of related compensation by allegedly making false representations about their injuries in traffic accidents. The wife, who earlier admitted that she had defrauded the SWD and three insurers out of a total of about $530,000, was today (August 26) sentenced at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts to 24 months’ imprisonment.

Chong Siu-fong, 41, beauty consultant, earlier pleaded guilty to five charges in two separate cases – two of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; and three of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.

In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Ms Cindy Li Shantong remarked that the offences involved in the case were serious in nature as the defendant had defrauded the government of public funds, warranting an immediate custodial sentence.

The court heard that SWD’s TAVA Scheme provided immediate financial assistance to traffic accident victims where applicants were required to submit application forms and sick leave certificates to the SWD.

At the material time, Chong was employed by a cosmetic company. She had taken out medical and accident insurance policies with several insurers, including AIA International Limited (AIA), FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (FWD) and Prudential Hong Kong Limited (Prudential).

Between July 2020 and September 2022, Chong submitted two TAVA applications to the SWD, claiming that she was injured in two traffic accidents. She also made insurance claims from the three insurers on one of the traffic accidents.

The SWD subsequently granted two TAVA payments totalling about $300,000 to Chong, while the three insurers released three sums of medical compensation totalling over $230,000 to her.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint in relation to the insurance claims. Enquiries revealed that Chong not only submitted false sick leave certificates when she filed applications with the SWD and the three insurers, she also falsely claimed that she was a housewife with no earnings, and that she had not filed applications with other insurers in respect of the traffic accidents concerned.

Chong’s husband Yeung Ping-wai, 42, part-time chef, was also charged by the ICAC for his role in the scam. He earlier pleaded not guilty to one count of fraud at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts. His case was scheduled for September 3 for a pre-trial review.

Co-defendant Chan Hok-yan, 44, unemployed and ex-spouse of Chong’s elder sister, was earlier charged with one count of fraud and six counts of conspiracy to defraud. He failed to attend court on March 8 this year and a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on the same day.

The SWD and the insurers concerned, namely AIA, FWD and Prudential, had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Teresa Cheung and Romeo Chu.