发布时间: 12/30/2025
A Heavy Price for Betrayal: 18 Years for HK$61M Theft
The gavel came down heavily today at the High Court, marking the end of a shocking decade-long scheme that drained millions from a local residential community.
The Choi Ming Court Scandal Unfolds
Residents of Choi Ming Court in Tseung Kwan O were stunned to learn that their hard-earned management fees had been serving as a personal piggy bank for their property manager. Wong Wai-lung, a 53-year-old manager employed by Kailey Management Services, was sentenced today (30th) to 18 years in prison. His crime? Systematically embezzling a staggering HK$61.1 million in public funds over ten years. Judge Chen Jong-heng delivered a stern rebuke, emphasizing that Wong had severely violated the trust of both the Owners' Corporation and his employer, necessitating a harsh deterrent sentence.
Caught in a Web of Lies
The house of cards finally collapsed in 2021. Accountants hired by the corporation noticed glaring discrepancies between the actual bank account balances and the financial reports Wong had been submitting. The audit revealed a massive shortfall. With nowhere left to hide, Wong confessed to the corporation's chairman. He admitted to siphoning off the funds to fuel a gambling addiction and to pay off mounting debts. Facing five counts of theft, Wong pleaded guilty, bringing the legal chapter of this saga to a close.
"Insignificant" Attempts at Repayment
During the sentencing, the prosecution acknowledged that Wong had sporadically deposited HK$2.13 million back into the corporation's accounts over the decade. This brought the actual financial loss down to approximately HK$58.97 million. However, Judge Chen was unmoved by this detail. He characterized the repayment as "insignificant" when weighed against the colossal total loss. It was not considered a valid factor for leniency. The judge highlighted that in the desperate final stages of his crime, Wong resorted to forging signatures and fabricating documents, continuing his theft until checks began to bounce—a clear indication of his total disregard for the trust placed in him.
Anatomy of the Crime
The details of the operation reveal a calculated abuse of power. Since 2001, Kailey Management Services had been the property management company for Choi Ming Court. Wong, serving as the property manager, was entrusted with preparing financial reports for ten bank accounts and held custody of checkbooks, passbooks, and official seals. While withdrawals required at least three signatures from committee members, Wong exploited the system. He would often present checks for "reimbursements" or expenses with the payee line left blank. Once the unsuspecting members signed, he would insert his own name. In other brazen instances, he simply added zeros to authorized amounts to inflate the figures. To keep the scheme running, he forged bank letters and monthly statements to deceive auditors. Upon arrest, Wong admitted his gambling habits at the Hong Kong Jockey Club and in Macau had left him with debts exceeding HK$10 million.
Case No: HCCC284/2025