Court convicts 14 over plot to buy priority ESF admissions

Thirteen parents and a businessman have been convicted of conspiring to bribe a former English Schools Foundation (ESF) kindergarten administrator with a total of HK$1.1 million to secure priority admission for their children to K1 classes.

The 14 defendants, aged between 35 and 48, include parents from 11 families and a businessman linked to one of the parents. They were found guilty at the District Court on Tuesday of 13 charges, comprising 12 counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage and one count of inciting an agent to solicit an advantage.

Deputy Judge Amy Chan Wai-mun said imprisonment was inevitable, refused to order community service reports and remanded all defendants in custody until mid-next month for mitigation.

The former administrator, Fatima Rumjahn, 56, who was then in charge of admissions at ESF International Kindergarten (Wu Kai Sha), earlier pleaded guilty to nine charges, including five counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage and four counts of accepting an advantage as an agent.

Chan noted that Rumjahn was solely responsible for admissions and accepted bribes to facilitate priority placements for 12 students. After pleading guilty, she testified against the remaining defendants.

Although the defense challenged her credibility, the judge said her willingness to disclose unfavorable facts demonstrated honesty. Chan rejected the defense’s claim that Rumjahn had distorted facts to appease the Independent Commission Against Corruption, saying it would be illogical for her to fabricate allegations that could worsen her own sentence.

The court heard that Rumjahn exploited a loophole in ESF’s computer system to prioritize certain applicants during the admissions process. She arranged out-of-turn placements by advancing interview schedules and altering evaluation records, including changing applicants’ categories from “other” to “alumni,” thereby misleading staff into believing they had a stronger position on the waiting list.

The defendants were identified as Cora Lam Man-hei and her husband Cheung Ka-ming; Marissa Choy Wai-yin and her partner Lee Chun-long; nine mothers — Julia Wong Yi-ting (formerly known as Julia Wong Wing-man), Vida Lau Ying-kwan (formerly known as Vida Lau Wai-tak), Ma Yin-man, Li Jiebing, Tsui Wai-him, Kong Ching-men, Michelle Wong Mei-suet, Mak Wai-ki and Zhu Shuangye — and businessman Siu Yu-pong.

The court heard that bribes ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 were paid to Rumjahn, totaling approximately HK$1.1 million, in exchange for securing kindergarten placements for 12 children, including those from 11 families and the daughter of Siu’s business partner.

In one instance, defendant Kong not only secured her own child’s admission through corrupt means but also persuaded Rumjahn to accept bribes on behalf of her friend Choy to help Choy’s child obtain a place.

An ICAC investigation found that the 12 students had initially ranked lower on the waiting list but were granted priority admission after bribes were paid.