A deputy high court judge in Hong Kong refused to convict four primary school teachers after they were charged for leaking exam entrance questions using their mobile phones.
The appeal court found their conduct “wholly inappropriate and disgraceful” but it did not amount to a crime.
Prosecutors in the appeal case tried to pin them down under technological crime. However, the judge ruled that using their mobile phones to leak questions did not amount to a charge of “obtaining access to a computer” for dishonest gain.
In 2014, the four teachers – three of whom were at Church of Christ in China Heep Woh Primary School (Heep Woh primary), while one was at another primary school – were caught leaking pictures and copies of the questions that would be given to candidates trying to get a place in the school.
Eventually parents received the questions, with a number discovered to have asked the teachers to refer their children to the school.
The teachers were acquitted in February 2016 and are currently still teaching at Heep Woh, according to South China Morning Post.
During the trial two years ago, the lower court heard that in 2014 the three Heep Woh teachers had to attend a meeting to receive the confidential questions.
One of them proceeded to take pictures and sent them to a friend. Another teacher also took a few photos and sent them to his colleague, who typed them up on a computer. The questions were then forwarded to parents.
In the lower court hearing, the magistrate ruled that she was not sure if the Heep Who teachers were warned of the confidentiality of the entrance questions.
She had also ruled that although some of the teachers took pictures of the questions at the meeting, they did not try to hide them, therefore not amounting a charge of “dishonest intent”.
Related stories:
Singapore tutor uses tech to help students cheat in O-level exams
Singapore vice principal under fire for insulting students