A Senior Police Constable has been jailed four years and four months for using false receipts to interfere with a Police internal investigation, and stealing his warrant card for sale.

Lau Ka-keung, 39, was found guilty at the District Court of one count of using copies of false instruments and one of theft. Judge Chua reprimanded Lau for committing the serious offences due to heavy indebtedness.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption arrested him during a graft inquiry and subsequent investigations revealed the offences. In August 2000, Lau was under internal investigation over a monetary dispute with a woman. Lau admitted he had obtained a sum of money from the woman, of which $750,000 was passed to a Chan Ka-fai for investment in a New Territories development.

When the two interviewing officers asked to see Chan, Lau claimed that Chan had fled to the Mainland due to heavy indebtedness. Lau instructed his former girlfriend to prepare three receipts purportedly issued by Chan, showing that Chan had received three sums of $250,000 from Lau.

The court also heard that since November 2003, Lau has been in financial difficulty. Lau met an ICAC undercover officer and indicated he wanted to sell his police warrant card and agreed to $15,000. He was arrested.