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Ng Kang-chung

A former primary school headmaster has been charged by Hong Kong’s graft buster for allegedly cheating the institution of about HK$270,000 (US$34,600) in salaries and funds.
Chen Yi-hsin, 47, faces four counts of fraud and has been released on bail, according to a Friday statement by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). He is expected to appear at the West Kowloon Court next Tuesday.
Chen was the principal of Yan Chai Hospital Chiu Tsang Hok Wan Primary School in Tsing Yi when the alleged fraud happened last year.
He is accused of lying about not receiving his salary for two months in a row and cheating the school into paying him double the amount of HK$150,000.
Chen also allegedly defrauded the school of HK$120,000 for personal use by lying that he had been authorised to withdraw school funds.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint.
An investigation revealed that in early April and early May 2023, Chen allegedly made false claims to the school that he had not received his salary for the months of March and April that year. That led to the school compensating him for the two months concerned.
A subsequent investigation however found that the payments in fact had already been made to Chen’s account by autopay.
But Chen told the school that the autopayment was unsuccessful and was later reissued the payments by cheque on his request. The extra salary payments had never been returned to the school.
The investigation also found that on two occasions between May and June last year, Chen lied that he had obtained the approval of the school’s sponsoring body and the institution’s supervisor to withdraw funds from the school’s bank account for official purposes.

The school then made two payments of HK$60,000 to him.
The ICAC investigation revealed that after receiving the payments of HK$120,000 from the school, Chen allegedly deposited the money into his own bank accounts for personal use. He had never spent the money on school’s expenses.
He left the school in late December last year.
The school’s sponsoring body Yan Chai Hospital and the institution’s management committee had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation, the graft-buster said.
An ICAC spokesman said that a school principal should not be involved in any conflict of interest while performing his official duties nor should he use his official position for personal gains.
“The ICAC will continue to adopt its three-pronged strategy in safeguarding a clean education sector,” it said.
“In addition to stringent enforcement actions, the [ICAC] has published a Best Practice Checklist on Governance and Internal Control in Schools and organised anti-corruption seminars for principals and staff to help fortify good governance and a culture of integrity in the sector,” it said.


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Ex-headmaster charged with fraud for cheating Hong Kong primary school out of HK$270,000

Yan Chai Hospital Chiu Tsang Hok Wan Primary School in Tsing Yi. Photo: Handout

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Law and Crime

Chen Yi-hsin, 47, is accused of making false claims about unpaid salary and misusing his position to withdraw school funds for personal use


Chen Yi-hsin, 47, is accused of making false claims about unpaid salary and misusing his position to withdraw school funds for personal use.
