Hong Kong doctor issued over 3,700 fraudulent Covid vaccine exemptions, court hears

A Hong Kong doctor fraudulently issued more than 3,700 Covid-19 vaccination exemption certificates over seven months during the pandemic, allowing some residents to avoid inoculation on the grounds of skin allergies, chest pain and other conditions, a court has heard.

Dr Tai Kong-shing, 80, stood trial at the District Court on Monday over allegations that he generated the certificates en masse for personal gain.

Prosecutors said the Western medical practitioner failed to make a proper diagnosis before issuing 3,713 notices via the government’s electronic health record system at his clinic between February 10 and September 20, 2022.

They further accused Tai of laundering HK$10.96 million (US$1.39 million) in cash and bank deposits, which represented in whole or in part the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.

The doctor denied one count of accessing a computer with dishonest intent, 13 alternative counts of the same offence, and three counts of money laundering.

Merchant Kriselle Young, 61, also stood trial on a count of accessing a computer with dishonest intent.