Fourteen jailed over bribes for kindergarten places

Fourteen people on Tuesday were jailed for eight to 14 months for offering bribes to try to secure kindergarten places for a dozen children. A former administrator at English School Foundation's Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten became a prosecution witness in the case after pleading guilty to accepting more than a million dollars in bribes to bump the children up the waiting list. Thirteen parents and a middleman, aged between 35 and 48, were convicted last month following a trial at the District Court. In sentencing, deputy judge Amy Chan said while she understands parents want their children to do well, the attempts to jump the queue were unfair to other applicants and everyone must abide by the law. Chan rejected pleas for suspended prison terms, saying although jailing the parents deals a major blow to them and their families, corruption is a serious offence and deterrent sentences are needed. The court heard that the bribes, made between 2018 and 2021, ranged in amount from HK$20,000 to HK$200,000. The administrator who accepted them is yet to be sentenced. The ICAC said the case came to light following a complaint. Edited by Thomas McAlinden