A doctor was jailed for 18 months yesterday for claiming HK$2.25 million in government rent allowances on a flat he owned.
Yuen Kai-tak was also ordered to repay the money within nine months of his release from jail.
Before sentencing, Yuen produced 120 letters of support to the court, including nine from district councillors, two from his children, and many from doctors, neighbours, old classmates and relatives.
Yuen, 47, was convicted of five counts of corruption this week for deceiving Tuen Mun Hospital.
The District Court heard that he asked his friend Tang Siu-kin, also a doctor, to be the 'nominal owner' of his flat at Evergreen Villa, in Pat Heung, Yuen Long. This meant he could say he leased the flat and could claim rent under the Civil Service Private Tenancy Allowance.
However, Yuen paid the mortgage and all other expenses, and Tang never received any rental payments.
Yuen bought the property for about HK$1.6 million in 1990. Over a decade, he received more than HK$2.25 million in rent allowances.