Senior Hong Kong police officer and former chief inspector charged with HK$26 million mortgage fraud
A senior Hong Kong police officer and a former policeman have been charged with fraudulently obtaining mortgages from two banks in excess of HK$26 million (US$3.33 million) by concealing the former’s affiliation with the force.
Superintendent Harbour Chan Hoi-kong, 50, appeared before Sha Tin Court on Wednesday to face two counts of fraud in relation to two mortgage applications in 2019 involving a luxury house at Seaview Villas in Tai Po, where he now lives.
Businessman and former chief inspector Wong Ho-ngai, 49, faced the same charges but his role in the alleged offence was not disclosed in open court. A charge sheet available for media inspection also offered no details on the intended purpose of the loans.
Chan, who has been suspended, was accused of providing false documents to the Bank of East Asia and OCBC Wing Hang Credit Limited, in which he claimed to be working in the private sector and earning between HK$115,000 and HK$246,500 monthly between July and December 2019.
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Prosecutors alleged Chan had the intention to defraud when he borrowed a total of HK$26.35 million from the two institutions. They did not object to the defendants’ bail, as they asked for time to prepare the necessary paperwork to move the case to the District Court for trial.
Chan and Wong were released on a HK$10,000 (US$1,280) and HK$5,000 bail, respectively, on condition they observe a travel ban, surrender all travel documents, report to police once a week, refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses and report any change of addresses. They will return to the same court on February 9.
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Chan enjoys a wide following on the Chinese Twitter-like platform Weibo, where he comments extensively on social issues. He was first arrested in May last year alongside a 47-year-old woman, who has not been charged.
Under chapter six of the Police General Orders, officers are allowed to take out mortgages provided that the purpose is to pay for a property that will be for their own accommodation and that the property concerned is registered under their name or that of their spouses.
Fraud is punishable by 14 years in prison, but capped at seven years when the case is tried before a district judge.
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