Doctor's wife admits housing rent scam
A doctor's wife yesterday admitted in the District Court to taking part in a HK$2.3 million housing allowance scam involving a City University senior lecturer.
Hung Hie-yiin, 46, pleaded guilty to a joint count of conspiracy, using documents with intent to deceive the university between 1996 and 2005. But the same charge against her husband, Sun Yu-wen, 47, a surgeon and fellow of the Academy of Medicine, was dismissed.
The proceedings were adjourned to June 29, when the senior lecturer is expected to make a plea. The court was told the lecturer was facing a joint conspiracy charge laid by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Senior government counsel Marco Li told the court Hung and her husband bought a flat at City One Sha Tin for HK$4.15 million on October 6, 1996, and were the registered owners.
On December 19 that year, the university received the first application from the senior lecturer, stating she was renting Hung's flat on a two-year contract.
The lecturer declared in her application that she had no financial interest in the rented property.
The prosecution, however, charged that she did.
A monthly housing allowance of HK$20,750 was granted to her, and four similar applications and declarations were made to the university until 2005.
Anti-graft officers searched the homes and offices of the lecturer and Hung on September 9, 2005, and seized documents, including sales paperwork and blank rental receipts with Hung's signature.
The prosecution claims they show the lecturer had a financial interest in the rented property.
Hung and the lecturer are on bail until court hearings resume in two weeks.
