A 36-year-old unemployed man has been accused of impersonating a victim of the Tai Po fire by using other people’s identity documents to obtain emergency relief and defraud three social welfare organizations of a total of HK$18,000.
The defendant, Fung Chun-kit, appeared at Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, where the case was adjourned to February 20 next year to allow for further investigation. He was not required to enter a plea.
The court heard today that the defendant allegedly said that he was Chan Man-him, a resident of a fifth-floor flat at Wang Shing House, while the actual occupant was Wong Kam-hung.
Fung is accused of using the false identity to obtain a total of HK$18,000 in relief funds from the Home Affairs Department, the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui – the city’s Anglican church – between November 29 and Tuesday.
When the accused was stopped by police shortly after receiving financial assistance from the church, he failed to show his identity card when asked by an officer, according to the court document.
Fung faces five charges, including one count of fraud, three counts of obtaining property by deception, and one count of failing to produce proof of identity.
The prosecution applied for an adjournment pending further inquiries, including investigations with other government departments and non-profit organizations to determine whether additional offenses may have been committed.
Prosecutors also said they needed time to review closed-circuit television footage and examine the defendant’s mobile phone devices. The prosecution opposed Fung’s bail application.
Magistrate Kenneth Chan Ping-chau refused bail and remanded the defendant in custody pending trial. The defense reserved eight days for a bail review.
