Charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Tsan Fan-kit, 27, appeared in Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday. He had earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of fraud.

Between May 2016 and November 2018, Tsang reported work injuries and took sick leaves by submitting 88 medical certificates issued by Tse Fook-cheong, 66, a registered Chinese medicine practitioner.

The sick leave certificates stated that Tsang was suffering from back pain. Yet ICAC investigation revealed that 11 of the medical certificates were issued when Tse was out of town. The certificates covered 95 days of sick leave and work injury compensations totaling about HK$47,000.

The investigation also found that Tsang worked for another employer between September 2017 and February 2018 when he was taking sick leave granted by HKTV Ltd and Garden Co Ltd.

He further submitted other medical certificates and receipts to the two companies to falsely claim work injury compensations amounting to about HK$49,000.

Defense told principal magistrate Bina Chainrai that Tsang only asked Tse to issue the false medical certificates as he underestimated the consequences of his actions. The lawyer hoped the court would hand down a lenient sentence on Tsang, who promised not to commit the offense again.

However, Chainrai pointed out that although Tsang said he was not fully aware of his wrongdoings, evidence suggested that he committed the offense intentionally. She remarked that she had to impose a deterrent sentence on Tsang and sentenced him to nine-month imprisonment.