The District Court has sentenced former Radio Television Hong Kong assistant programme officer Tsang Yuet-ngor to 18 months' jail suspended for two years for swindling $116,000 in scriptwriting service fees.

Tsang, 42, was found guilty of 14 counts of fraud. Deputy Judge Newman Wong criticised RTHK's lax supervision in the use of expenses forms.

RTHK said the payment system for service providers has been upgraded to ensure strict monitoring. A system review unit was formed in 2002 to upgrade all procedures to ensure accuracy of all service records and payments, and to plug loopholes. In 2003, central administrative units were formed in all production wings to centralise and administer all the engagement and payment procedures for the service providers.

RTHK said it will study the court transcript and take all necessary action.

Tsang was working in broadcaster's drama unit at the time of the offences, responsible for drama production. As scriptwriting was part of her duties, she was not entitled to claim service fees for the job.

Between August 1999 and March 2002 she used the names of her mother and brother to submit 14 claim forms to RTHK, purportedly showing the latter two had provided scriptwriting services. RTHK effected payments totalling $44,000 and $72,200 to the defendant's mother and brother.