Clerk denies theft of $14m

AN accounts clerk yesterday denied stealing $14 million from four companies controlled by her former boss, the nephew of Allied Group's former chairman.

Polly Chan Wai-mui, 31, denied 30 counts of theft.

Prosecutor Robert Lee told the District Court Chan was a senior accounts clerk from 1986 to March 1993 at Excel-in Ltd, which also controlled Invalue Co Ltd, Treasure Industrial Ltd and Fortune System Ltd.

Mr Lee said Chan was the authorised co-signatory for company cheques.

Between January 8, 1992, and February 27, 1993, it was claimed, Chan altered the figures on 30 cheques from the four companies after Lee Seng-lin, the nephew of former Allied Group chairman Lee Ming-tee, had co-signed them.

The cheques were then paid into the accounts of Chan, her sister Chan Sau-ching, husband Ip Wing-ming, friend Lee Siu-vang and Chan's stockbroking account, it was alleged.