5 gov't health inspectors accused of stealing food meant for tests were told to toss unused samples, court hears
Chan Ying-shan, Lam Hiu-kwan, Yu Fung-chun, Lee Chun-hei, and Lau Shing-hin, who worked for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's Centre for Food Safety, appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday for the first day of the trial.
Four pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to steal. Separately, Lau pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of stealing and is acting as a prosecution witness.
Presided over by Magistrate Edward Wong, the trial began about 10 months after the five inspectors were charged with conspiring to steal food – including canned abalone, white truffle sauce, and crab bisque – ordered for conducting radiation tests.
According to an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) statement published when they were charged in June last year, the five health inspectors bought food samples worth around HK$88,000 for radiation tests in mid-2022 and early 2023.
A total of 82 food samples were subsequently found at their homes, the ICAC said.
On Tuesday, the court heard that Lam had the most food, with 25 food samples found at her home. The food included opened risotto, pasta, and Japanese rice packages, according to The Witness.
Lo Chi-ming, a chief health inspector who was testifying for the prosecution, said the proper way to handle untested food samples was to sprinkle a type of powder on the samples to make them go bad before disposal.
Staff should also make a record of the time, date, and place of disposal, Lo said.
Senior health inspector Lau Hau-kwan – who was the five defendants' supervisor, testified to the court that she had briefed them on the proper handling procedures for food samples.
The trial, which is expected to take six days, continued on Wednesday.
Under Hong Kong's Theft Ordinance, stealing and conspiring to steal are punishable by up to 10 years in jail, although the maximum sentence meted out at magistrate courts is two years.
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