Hong Kong corruption watchdog charges 3 over HK$1.3 million elderly care voucher fraud
Trio allegedly conspired with 10 carers to fake attendance records, overstating 5,000 hours across 130 users
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has charged three people, including two private care home operators, over an alleged HK$1.3 million fraud involving an elderly care voucher scheme.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Thursday that the trio allegedly inflated service records under the Social Welfare Department’s Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly, overstating carers’ service hours by more than 5,000 hours.
The scheme provides elderly residents with subsidies to purchase home- or centre-based care services from registered providers based on their needs.
Those charged are Lo Yuen-yee, 55, a registered nurse and director of Healthy Life Association Limited; Chan Yu-wai, 49, a registered occupational therapist and director and shareholder of Spark Plus Company Limited; and Mak Chui-shan, 58, a personal care service officer employed by both companies.
The ICAC said it launched an investigation after a corruption complaint was referred by the department, alleging the trio used false records to obtain government subsidies.
At the time of the alleged offences, both Healthy Life Association and Spark Plus were registered service providers under the scheme and were required to submit attendance records to claim reimbursements.