The District Court has convicted former Deputy Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Anthony Lam for using false documents to swindle $120,000 in allowances.

He was found guilty of three counts of an agent using a document with intent to deceive and one count of misconduct in public office. The case was adjourned to May 15 for sentencing. Lam, 60, was granted $100,000 bail and ordered to surrender his travel documents.

As Acting Privacy Commissioner in 2005 he dishonestly claimed the cost of return airfares for three trips to Melbourne and 100% overseas subsistence allowance despite staying at his own home in the Australian city.

His office's guidelines said only 60% of the allowance can be granted to an officer who resides at their own accommodation or is provided with free accommodation by a friend or relative.