Four welfare claimants yesterday became the first people to be jailed in Hong Kong for duping a government clinic into handing over excess medication that they later resold to a dispensary.
Magistrate Ernest Lin Kam-hung, in Kowloon City Court, said: 'The defendants have abused the welfare system and a custodial sentence is the only way [to reflect the seriousness of the offence].'
Mr Lin invited the defendants to appeal against conviction so clear sentencing guidelines could be set in the higher courts.
The court was told the defendants obtained drugs from the Jockey Club Polyclinic in Yau Ma Tei in December 2001 and sold them to the owner of the Wing Hing Dispensary in Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei.
Cheung Hok-ning, 49, Wong Kam-wah, 47, Ho Wing-yiu, 43, Cheung Yuk-sun, 39, Ho Shing-tai, 54 and Lau Kin-fai, 45, pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including possession and unlawful sale of the medicine and conspiracy to defraud.
Cheung Hok-ning, Cheung Yuk-sun, Ho Shing-tai and Lau were jailed for eight months. Wong and Ho Wing-yiu's sentencing was adjourned to January 17.