HONG KONG AGENT ADMITS PART IN FRAUD

An insurance agent in Hong Kong has admitted her role in an attempted HK$8.55m (US%1.1m) fraud that involved two Chinese mainlanders having their right eyes surgically removed. Ho Shuk-yin pleaded guilty in a District Court to five charges, including conspiracy to defraud. Insurance claims worth HK$23.68m were filed and HK$8.55m was paid out. Two mainlanders had claimed that they lost their eyes in motor accidents on the mainland in claims submitted to several insurers. The victims of the mutilation have said that they never received the HK$300,000 payments promised to them for taking part in the fraud. Ms Ho’s former supervisor, Kwok Yan-Sang, is accused of similar offences and faces trial next week. Eight people in total, four of whom agreed to being blinded in one eye and two of whom actually submitted to the operation, are alleged to have taken part in the scheme. Former agent Kwok Wah-cheong pleaded guilty in January and agreed to testify against others allegedly involved in the fraud.