A former public rental housing tenant has been sentenced to two weeks' jail and fined $54,000 by Tsuen Wan Magistracy for making a false statement in declaring his net asset value to the Housing Authority.

Under the authority's policy, tenants must declare their household's average monthly income twice a year.

The defendant had been living in Cheung Hang Estate in Tsing Yi with his family since 1995. In 2006 he concealed that he and his wife owned nine properties and were shareholders in a limited company. He also failed to declare his interest income from his fixed bank deposits.

The defendant would have been paying double rent plus rates amounting to $3,178 since last April instead of the normal rent of $1,375.

He pleaded guilty in court on June 5 and was remanded in custody for sentencing on June 19.