5 Hong Kong health inspectors charged over stealing luxury food meant for radiation tests
- Health inspectors allegedly kept portions of food selected for radiation testing, including canned abalones, white truffle sauce and crab bisque
Five Hong Kong health inspectors have been given extra time to consider their legal options after they were charged over the theft of food samples bought with public money for radiation testing, including canned abalones, white truffle sauce and crab bisque.
The five inspectors, who have been suspended by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, were not required to enter a plea during their first appearance at West Kowloon Court on Thursday.
Magistrate Li Chi-ho adjourned the hearing until mid-August for the defence to offer legal advice to their clients.
The defendants, who were each released on a HK$2,000 (US$256) bail after their arrest last year, were barred from leaving Hong Kong and required to report to police weekly and avoid contact with any prosecution witness.
The inspectors, comprising three women and two men aged 28 to 37, have been jointly charged with a conspiracy to steal, an offence punishable by up to two years imprisonment when it is the only charge to be tried at the magistrates’ court.
They are first-grade inspectors Chan Ying-shan, 34, Lam Hiu-kwan, 29, Yu Fung-chun, 28, Lau Shing-hin, 35, and Lee Chun-hei, 37.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Wednesday that they were previously posted to a team at the food import and export section under the Centre for Food Safety’s risk management division.
