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Friday, Mar 31, 2023
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Four civil servants arrested for buying multiple vax exemptions for up to HK$2,500
Police on Friday arrested four female civil servants aged 25 to 48 for conspiracy to defraud for buying and using vaccine exemption certificates from seven arrested doctors.
Speaking to media in the afternoon, police superintendent Alan Chung Nga-lun from the Kowloon West regional headquarters said the four are aged 25, 42, 45, and 48 respectively. One is a primary school teacher and the other three are staff members from the Social Welfare Department.
They were arrested this morning in Tin Shui Wai, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Hung Hom on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, for buying the vaccine exemption certificates from the seven arrested doctors for HK$500 to HK$2,500 multiple times. They are now remanded in custody.
“The four have each obtained more than just one exemption certificate,” Chung told reporters.
“As for the reasons on making the arrests, police have launched in-depth investigations and carefully assessed all evidence. We also obtained medical reports from professional health experts, which led us to believe that the four illegally obtained the exemption certs.”
“It's not that holding an exemption cert issued by one of the seven arrested doctors is illegal. We don't mean that,” Chung also stressed. “We must have reasonable doubts that they obtained the exemption certs by providing false declarations or information before arresting them.”
The arrests were made by police's regional units in West Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and New Territories North in the morning. Officers also raided arrestees' workplaces in Wan Chai, Wong Tai Sin, and Yau Tsim district.
A total of seven doctors throughout the city were arrested for suspectedly issuing and selling fraudulent vaccine exemption certificates. One of them fled overseas already and is wanted by police.
“As of today, police have arrested six doctors, seven clinic staff members, and 26 citizens in operations targeting fraudulent issuance of exemption certs,” Chung added.
The Health Bureau later announced that more than 20,000 exemption certs by these doctors will become invalid starting next Wednesday (Oct 12).
The Civil Service Bureau previously said about 850 civil servants are holding an exemption certificate, and about 370 of them collect the certs from the seven arrested doctors, including about 70 non-civil servants.
Chung continued that police will remain in close contact with the Department of Justice, the Health Department and the Civil Service Bureau to follow up on the matter.
He warned that conspiracy to defraud is a serious offense and the maximum penalty upon conviction is 14 years' imprisonment.
They were arrested this morning in Tin Shui Wai, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Hung Hom on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, for buying the vaccine exemption certificates from the seven arrested doctors for HK$500 to HK$2,500 multiple times. They are now remanded in custody.
“The four have each obtained more than just one exemption certificate,” Chung told reporters.
“As for the reasons on making the arrests, police have launched in-depth investigations and carefully assessed all evidence. We also obtained medical reports from professional health experts, which led us to believe that the four illegally obtained the exemption certs.”
“It's not that holding an exemption cert issued by one of the seven arrested doctors is illegal. We don't mean that,” Chung also stressed. “We must have reasonable doubts that they obtained the exemption certs by providing false declarations or information before arresting them.”
The arrests were made by police's regional units in West Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and New Territories North in the morning. Officers also raided arrestees' workplaces in Wan Chai, Wong Tai Sin, and Yau Tsim district.
A total of seven doctors throughout the city were arrested for suspectedly issuing and selling fraudulent vaccine exemption certificates. One of them fled overseas already and is wanted by police.
“As of today, police have arrested six doctors, seven clinic staff members, and 26 citizens in operations targeting fraudulent issuance of exemption certs,” Chung added.
The Health Bureau later announced that more than 20,000 exemption certs by these doctors will become invalid starting next Wednesday (Oct 12).
The Civil Service Bureau previously said about 850 civil servants are holding an exemption certificate, and about 370 of them collect the certs from the seven arrested doctors, including about 70 non-civil servants.
Chung continued that police will remain in close contact with the Department of Justice, the Health Department and the Civil Service Bureau to follow up on the matter.
He warned that conspiracy to defraud is a serious offense and the maximum penalty upon conviction is 14 years' imprisonment.
