Postman given 180-hour community service order for using false parking permits

A Hong Kong postman was handed a 180-hour community service order on Thursday for using false parking permits to occupy a parking space at a car park of a government building for free for about half a year. 

The 39-year-old defendant Man Chun-him earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of using false instruments. The remaining count of the charge was dropped by the prosecution. 

Passing down the sentence at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday, magistrate David Chum Yau-fong said the offenses committed by the defendant were serious in nature. 

Having considered Man’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors, Chum imposed a non-custodial sentence on the defendant. 

At the material time, Man worked at the Tai Po Delivery Office in the Tai Po Government Offices Building, the car park of which was managed by Guardian Property Management Ltd. 

The court heard that between April and October 2022, Man parked a car at the car park by showing the two temporary parking permits, purportedly issued by the Hongkong Post, to four Guardian security guards, with the intention of duping them into accepting the permits as genuine. 

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint and revealed that Man used the false permits to park his car at the car park on 94 working days. 

ICAC extended gratitude towards the Hongkong Post and Guardian for their full assistance during the investigation. 

The anti-graft watchdog also reminded civil servants to uphold a high standard of integrity. “Obtaining personal gain by corrupt or deceptive means would be subject to criminal liability,” it said.