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Jail for two after ugly side of college training course revealed
A former dean of Open University's community college and his girlfriend were sentenced to jail for 15 months and 10 months, respectively, for bribery over a course organized with a beauty industry council.
Kris Wong Wai-ning, 52, former dean of Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education under the Open University (subsequently renamed as Hong Kong Metropolitan University), and his girlfriend Vicky Lai Wai-kee, 50, former program director of the college, arranged Council of Beauty Professionals Limited to offer a corporate training program between September 25, 2017 and January 20, 2018.
The program was in exchange for a potential position for Wong at the beauty industry council upon the expiration of his contract with the college.
The school found out and reported to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the two were charged with conspiracy to solicit advantage as public servants, and were found guilty after trial.
In delivering the verdict yesterday, deputy district judge Veronica Heung Shuk-han said Wong, as the mastermind, organized the course for his own personal interests. Lai was fully informed and actively cooperated, but Heung accepted that she was not acting in her personal interest.
Wong argued that he was involved in organizing the program on a voluntary basis and assisted as an industry expert, stressing that he was not acting as an employee of the college.
Lai claimed that she had organized the program in accordance with the college's general procedures, and that she had not entered into any unlawful agreement with Wong.
But Heung found that Wong was personally involved in the process and was actively seeking to get the program approved as soon as possible, apparently with the aim of gaining a position at the beauty industry council.
Heung found Lai guilty of acting in concert with Wong to organize the program even though she knew that his actions clearly constituted a conflict of interest with the college. She said both Wong and Lai have given "dubious confessions" in an attempt to evade responsibility.
Heung initially sentenced the two to 18 months and 12 months, respectively, but reduced the sentences to 15 and 10 months, taking into account their background and good character.
The program was in exchange for a potential position for Wong at the beauty industry council upon the expiration of his contract with the college.
The school found out and reported to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the two were charged with conspiracy to solicit advantage as public servants, and were found guilty after trial.
In delivering the verdict yesterday, deputy district judge Veronica Heung Shuk-han said Wong, as the mastermind, organized the course for his own personal interests. Lai was fully informed and actively cooperated, but Heung accepted that she was not acting in her personal interest.
Wong argued that he was involved in organizing the program on a voluntary basis and assisted as an industry expert, stressing that he was not acting as an employee of the college.
Lai claimed that she had organized the program in accordance with the college's general procedures, and that she had not entered into any unlawful agreement with Wong.
But Heung found that Wong was personally involved in the process and was actively seeking to get the program approved as soon as possible, apparently with the aim of gaining a position at the beauty industry council.
Heung found Lai guilty of acting in concert with Wong to organize the program even though she knew that his actions clearly constituted a conflict of interest with the college. She said both Wong and Lai have given "dubious confessions" in an attempt to evade responsibility.
Heung initially sentenced the two to 18 months and 12 months, respectively, but reduced the sentences to 15 and 10 months, taking into account their background and good character.
