The Eastern Magistracy today sentenced a Hospital Authority manager to four months' jail for conspiring to disclose to the media the identity of someone under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Vasco Lee Yum-sang, 44, a Hospital Authority design manager, was today found guilty of one count of conspiracy to disclose the identity of a person under ICAC investigation.

Co-defendant Fu Bik, 32, a former Hospital Authority assistant public affairs manager, earlier pleaded guilty to a similar offence. She was jailed for six weeks, suspended for one year.

In sentencing, Magistrate William Lam Kui-po said he had to impose a custodial sentence on Lee as he had committed the offence maliciously, and shown no remorse.

Lee had also made use of Fu's friendship to commit the offence, which hindered the ICAC's investigations.

On April 4, 2005, Lee lodged a complaint with the ICAC, alleging his supervisor might have corruptly awarded a design contract. ICAC officers interviewed Lee, and took two witness statements from him.

The officers reminded him to keep the investigation confidential.

Anonymous letter tips off media

Lee later learned from his colleagues that his supervisor was going to an ICAC interview on September 22, 2005. Believing it was related to his complaint, Lee asked Fu to disclose his supervisor's appointment with the ICAC, and details of the ICAC investigation, to the media.

Fu prepared an anonymous letter, stating that Lee's supervisor was the subject of an ICAC investigation relating to a Hospital Authority tendering project, and another senior authority executiv had assisted in the investigation.

Fu faxed the letter to six media organisations from a Causeway Bay convenience store. Two TV stations also received a copy.

When the Hospital Authority received press enquiries about the alleged bribery, the supervisor decided not to go to the scheduled ICAC interview.

Nine local newspapers, quoting the anonymous letter, reported that two senior Hospital Authority staff members were accused of bribery relating to a publicity contract award.