A district councillor convicted of fraudulently claiming office rent was 'generous and helpful' and had used the money on a 'worthy cause', Fanling Court was told yesterday.
Defence counsel Eric Kwok Tung-ming said North District councillor Li Kwok-fung did not commit the crime out of personal greed - instead, he used the money to fund and promote community welfare and activities for the elderly and students.
Mr Kwok also said Li had dug deep into his own pocket after he became chairman of North District Council and Fanling District Rural Committee in 1999.
The committee was constantly under a tight budget and Li claimed the rent to subsidise some expenses, the court was told.
Li, 53, admitted he had instructed two of his assistants to prepare 29 bogus receipts between January 2000 and May 2002 to show he had rented an office. He was reimbursed $129,027. Li has since repaid the government.
'No doubt it is a serious offence. But the seriousness is diminished by the fact that Li had not pocketed the money. Instead, he spent it on a worthy cause,' Mr Kwok said.