Judge recognises former music professor's contribution to society and says former wife may have been behind fraud
A former top music academic has been ordered to perform 200 hours of community service for cheating Chinese University out of HK$1.9 million in tenancy allowance in a fraud that began 16 years ago.
Chan Wing-wah, 52, the former associate dean of the university's arts faculty, had fallen from grace because of an 'unnecessary act of greed', Deputy District Court Judge Garry Tallentire said yesterday.
But he added there were exceptional circumstances because it appeared the main architect of the fraud could have been Chan's ex-wife, Jean Zee Pui-man, who had refused to assist the defence with details of the couple's financial situation at the time.
Chan was convicted on November 27 on two charges of using documents - an application for a private tenancy allowance filed in 1990 and information about the property lease submitted in 1998 - with intent to deceive.
The court heard the flat in Tin Hau Temple Road, North Point, was owned by a company owned by Chan and his wife and run by his sister-in-law, in breach of a condition that relatives should not own a financial interest in any flat he rented under the allowance scheme.
A probation report submitted yesterday recommended a community service order of 160 to 200 hours, saying Chan was remorseful.
