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A court has, for the first time, sentenced an ex-public rental housing (PRH) tenant to immediate imprisonment for concealing his assets and income in order to avoid paying double rent.
The defendant, convicted for having knowingly made false statements to the Housing Authority, was jailed for two weeks and fined about $54,000, which was treble that of the undercharged rent.
The defendant's family had been living in Cheung Hang Estate, Tsing Yi, since 1995. According to the Housing Subsidy Policy, the defendant had been requested to declare the household average monthly income biennially since 2006.
When making his income declaration for 2006, the defendant concealed that he and his wife were owners of nine properties and shareholders of a limited company. He also failed to declare his interest income from his fixed bank deposits.
Had these facts been disclosed, the defendant would have been paying double rent plus rates amounting to $3,178 since April 1, 2007, instead of the normal rent of $1,375.
On June 5, the defendant pleaded guilty in the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Court and was remanded in police custody awaiting sentence.
Since January, 2006, there have been 223 convicted cases of making false information knowingly. Four of the defendants were sentenced to immediate imprisonment and seven were given suspended sentences. Others were fined or given Community Service Orders.
The cases were mainly involved in the application for public housing or concealing of asset and income.
A Housing Department spokesman reminded PRH tenants against making false statements on various kinds of requisitions for information required under the Housing Ordinance. It is a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. Where appropriate, a further fine of trebling the rent undercharged may be imposed by the court.
Ends/Sunday, June 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:00
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