SEC Press pdf 186 KB 8,877 chars

In re CHOI DOW IAN HONG & LEE

summary

Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corp and its partner Ernest E. Dow, CPA, issued an unregistered $3,600 audit report for VALCAPX Acquisition Corp after the Sarbanes‑Oxley deadline, leading the SEC to institute administrative proceedings that could result in censure or a ban from practicing before the Commission.

paragraph

Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation, a California public accounting firm, and its engagement partner Ernest E. Dow, CPA, prepared and issued a December 2, 2004 audit report for VALCAPX Acquisition Corp and were paid $3,600 for the work. The firm had never registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, violating Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, which bars unregistered firms from auditing public reporting companies after October 22, 2003. The SEC therefore instituted administrative proceedings under Section 4C of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e), seeking possible censure or a permanent denial of the right to practice before the Commission.

narrative

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed administrative proceedings against Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation and its engagement partner Ernest E. Dow, CPA, for preparing and issuing a December 2, 2004 audit report for VALCAPX Acquisition Corp. The audit firm, based in Los Angeles, received $3,600 for auditing VALCAPX’s 2002‑2004 financial statements, which were included in the company’s Form 10‑KSB filed on December 9, 2004. Despite knowing the requirement to register with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Choi Dow never obtained PCAOB registration, making it unqualified to issue audit reports for a public reporting company after the October 22, 2003 deadline. This conduct violated Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, which prohibits unregistered firms from preparing or issuing audit reports for issuers. The SEC alleges willful violations and is pursuing sanctions under Section 4C of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e), which may include censure or a permanent ban on appearing before the Commission. The order institutes the proceedings and sets the framework for adjudicating the alleged misconduct.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
accounting-fraud (100%)
Classified accounting-fraud(confidence 100%). EDGAR detection: forms 10-K/10-Q/8-K/NT 10-K· recall 80% / precision 48%. detection rule →
Statutes
17 C.F.R. § 201.11017 C.F.R. § 201.220SECTION 4C OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
Parties
Securities and Exchange CommissionCHOI DOW IAN HONG & LEE ACCOUNTANCY CORPORATIONERNEST E. DOWCPA
Keywords
dowcommissionaudit reportchoirules practiceauditvalcapxrulesreportpubliccommission rulespreparation issuanceexchangerespondentspractice

Extracted insights

Dollar amounts 1
  • $4K $3,600 <$10K
Entities 4
  • company audit report dated december 2, 2004 for valcapx acquisition corp.
  • company choi dow ian hong & lee accountancy corporation
  • agency Securities and Exchange Commission
  • company valcapx acquisition corp.
Triples 12
  • Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation is California Corporation And Public Accounting Firm Headquartered In Los Angeles, California
  • Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation prepared and issued Audit Report Dated December 2, 2004 For VALCAPX Acquisition Corp.
  • Ernest E. Dow, CPA is Certified Public Accountant Licensed In California Since 1983
  • Ernest E. Dow, CPA participated in Preparation And Issuance Of December 2, 2004 VALCAPX Audit Report
  • VALCAPX Acquisition Corp. is Nevada Corporation Based In Los Angeles, California
  • VALCAPX Acquisition Corp. reported No Revenue And No Assets For Fiscal Years Ended June 30, 2002, 2003, And 2004
  • Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation failed to register Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
  • Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation audited VALCAPX's 2002, 2003, And 2004 Financial Statements
  • Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation issued audit report December 2, 2004 For VALCAPX Financial Statements After October 22, 2003 Deadline
  • Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation received $3,600 For Conducting Audit Of VALCAPX Financial Statements
  • SEC instituted Administrative Proceedings Against Choi Dow And Ernest E. Dow Pursuant To Section 4C Of Securities Exchange Act Of 1934
  • Ernest E. Dow, CPA participated in Auditing VALCAPX's 2002, 2003, And 2004 Financial Statements
Text layers
Extracted body text (8,877c)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

                                                                     Before                                                                     the                                                                     

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

September 13, 2007 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 
File No. 3-12790 
In the Matter of 
CHOI DOW IAN HONG & LEE 
ACCOUNTANCY 
CORPORATION and ERNEST 
E. DOW, CPA,  
Respondents. 
ORDER INSTITUTING  
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS 
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4C OF THE 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE 
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE, 
AND NOTICE OF HEARING 
I. 
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that public 
administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 4C of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice 
against Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation (“Choi Dow”) and Ernest E. Dow, 
CPA (“Dow”) (collectively “Respondents”). 
II. 
After an investigation, the Division of Enforcement alleges that: 
A. RESPONDENTS 
1. Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation is a California corporation 
and public accounting firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California.  Choi Dow prepared and 
issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004 in connection with its audit of VALCAPX 
Acquisition Corp. (“VALCAPX”).   
2. Ernest E. Dow, CPA, 58, of Los Angeles, California, is a certified public 
accountant licensed in California since 1983.  As engagement partner on the VALCAPX 
engagement, Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of the December 2, 2004 
VALCAPX audit report. 

B. 	OTHER RELEVANT ENTITY 
1. VALCAPX is a Nevada corporation based in Los Angeles, California.  Its common 
stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. 
VALCAPX reported no revenue and no assets for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 
2004. VALCAPX has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002 (the “Act”).   
C. 	FAILURE TO REGISTER WITH THE PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING 
OVERSIGHT BOARD 
1. Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) prohibits any person 
that is not a registered public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
Board (“PCAOB” or “Board”) from preparing or issuing, or participating in the preparation or 
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any public reporting company after October 22, 2003. 
2. Though Respondents were aware of the PCAOB registration requirement, at no 
point did Choi Dow register with the PCAOB as a public accounting firm. 
3. Choi Dow audited VALCAPX’s 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements 
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 
on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.   
4. Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004, which was 
included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 
filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.   
5. Dow participated in auditing the 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements 
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 on 
Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.   
6. Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated December 
2, 2004, which was included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB. 
7. Even though Choi Dow had failed to register with the Board, Choi Dow issued, and 
Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of, an audit report on the financial statements of 
VALCAPX after the October 22, 2003 deadline. 
8. As part of the audit, Choi Dow received $3,600 for conducting an audit of the 
financial statements of  VALCAPX and for issuing an audit report on those statements.   
D.	        VIOLATIONS        
1. Section 4C(a) of the Exchange Act provides, in relevant part, that the Commission 
“may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the privilege of 
appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found by the 
2


Commission ... (1) not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others ... or (3) to have 
willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities 
laws or the rules and regulations issued thereunder.” 
2. Rule 102(e)(1) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice provides that the 
Commission “may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of 
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found by the Commission ... (i) 
not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others ... or (iii) to have willfully violated ... 
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.” 
3. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is 
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or 
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.” 
4. Because Choi Dow had not registered with the PCAOB, it lacked “the requisite 
qualifications” to issue an audit report dated December 2, 2004.    
5. By participating in the preparation or issuance of an audit report after October 22, 
2003 by an audit firm that was not registered with the PCAOB, Dow lacked “the requisite 
qualifications to represent others.” 
6. In violation of Section 102(a) of the Act, Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit 
report on the financial statements of a reporting company after October 22, 2003, without first 
registering with the Board.  In so doing, Choi Dow thus also willfully violated the federal securities 
laws. 
III. 
In view of the allegations made by the Division of Enforcement, the Commission deems it 
necessary and appropriate that public administrative proceedings be instituted to determine:    
A. Whether the allegations set forth in Section II are true and, in connection therewith, 
to afford Respondents an opportunity to establish any defenses to such allegations;  
B. Whether, pursuant to Sections 4C(a)(1) and 4C(a)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rules 
102(e)(1)(i) and 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Choi Dow should be censured 
by the Commission or temporarily or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing 
before the Commission; and 
C. Whether, pursuant to Section 4C(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(i) of 
the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Dow should be censured by the Commission or temporarily or 
permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission.  
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IV. 
IT IS ORDERED that a public hearing for the purpose of taking evidence on the questions 
set forth in Section III hereof shall be convened at a time and place to be fixed, and before an 
Administrative Law Judge to be designated by further order as provided by Rule 110 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.110.   
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall file an Answer to the allegations 
contained in this Order within twenty (20) days after service of this Order, as provided by Rule 220 
of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.220.  
If Respondents fail to file the directed answer, or fail to appear at a hearing after being duly 
notified, the Respondents may be deemed in default and the proceedings may be determined against 
them upon consideration of this Order, the allegations of which may be deemed to be true as 
provided by Rules 155(a), 220(f), 221(f) and 310 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R.  
§§ 201.155(a), 201.220(f), 201.221(f) and 201.310. 
This Order shall be served forthwith upon Respondents personally or by certified mail. 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an initial 
decision no later than 300 days from the date of service of this Order, pursuant to Rule 360(a)(2) of 
the Commission’s Rules of Practice. 
In the absence of an appropriate waiver, no officer or employee of the Commission engaged 
in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions in this or any factually related 
proceeding will be permitted to participate or advise in the decision of this matter, except as witness 
or counsel in proceedings held pursuant to notice.  Since this proceeding is not “rule making” within 
the meaning of Section 551 of the Administrative Procedure Act, it is not deemed subject to the 
provisions of Section 553 delaying the effective date of any final Commission action. 
            By            the            Commission.            
        Nancy M. Morris
        Secretary 
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OCR text (8,661c · tika · 95% conf)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

 Before the 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

September 13, 2007 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING 
File No. 3-12790 

In the Matter of 

CHOI DOW IAN HONG & LEE 
ACCOUNTANCY 
CORPORATION and ERNEST 
E. DOW, CPA,  

Respondents. 

ORDER INSTITUTING  
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS 
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4C OF THE 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
AND RULE 102(e) OF THE 
COMMISSION’S RULES OF PRACTICE, 
AND NOTICE OF HEARING 

I. 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) deems it appropriate that public 
administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 4C of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 102(e) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice 
against Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation (“Choi Dow”) and Ernest E. Dow, 
CPA (“Dow”) (collectively “Respondents”). 

II. 

After an investigation, the Division of Enforcement alleges that: 

A. RESPONDENTS 

1. Choi Dow Ian Hong & Lee Accountancy Corporation is a California corporation 
and public accounting firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California.  Choi Dow prepared and 
issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004 in connection with its audit of VALCAPX 
Acquisition Corp. (“VALCAPX”).   

2. Ernest E. Dow, CPA, 58, of Los Angeles, California, is a certified public 
accountant licensed in California since 1983.  As engagement partner on the VALCAPX 
engagement, Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of the December 2, 2004 
VALCAPX audit report. 



B. 	 OTHER RELEVANT ENTITY 

1. VALCAPX is a Nevada corporation based in Los Angeles, California.  Its common 
stock is registered with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. 
VALCAPX reported no revenue and no assets for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 
2004. VALCAPX has at all relevant times been an issuer as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 
2002 (the “Act”).   

C. 	 FAILURE TO REGISTER WITH THE PUBLIC COMPANY ACCOUNTING 
OVERSIGHT BOARD 

1. Section 102(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) prohibits any person 
that is not a registered public accounting firm with the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
Board (“PCAOB” or “Board”) from preparing or issuing, or participating in the preparation or 
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any public reporting company after October 22, 2003. 

2. Though Respondents were aware of the PCAOB registration requirement, at no 
point did Choi Dow register with the PCAOB as a public accounting firm. 

3. Choi Dow audited VALCAPX’s 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements 
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 
on Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.   

4. Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit report dated December 2, 2004, which was 
included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 
filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.   

5. Dow participated in auditing the 2002, 2003, and 2004 financial statements 
included in VALCAPX’s annual report for fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003, and 2004 on 
Form 10-KSB, filed with the Commission on December 9, 2004.   

6. Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of an audit report dated December 
2, 2004, which was included in VALCAPX’s Form 10-KSB. 

7. Even though Choi Dow had failed to register with the Board, Choi Dow issued, and 
Dow participated in the preparation and issuance of, an audit report on the financial statements of 
VALCAPX after the October 22, 2003 deadline. 

8. As part of the audit, Choi Dow received $3,600 for conducting an audit of the 
financial statements of  VALCAPX and for issuing an audit report on those statements.   

D.	 VIOLATIONS 

1. Section 4C(a) of the Exchange Act provides, in relevant part, that the Commission 
“may censure any person, or deny, temporarily or permanently, to any person the privilege of 
appearing or practicing before the Commission in any way, if that person is found by the 

2




Commission … (1) not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others … or (3) to have 
willfully violated, or willfully aided and abetted the violation of, any provision of the securities 
laws or the rules and regulations issued thereunder.” 

2. Rule 102(e)(1) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice provides that the 
Commission “may censure a person or deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of 
appearing or practicing before it in any way to any person who is found by the Commission ... (i) 
not to possess the requisite qualifications to represent others … or (iii) to have willfully violated … 
any provision of the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder.” 

3. Section 102(a) of the Act provides that “it shall be unlawful for any person that is 
not a registered public accounting firm to prepare or issue, or to participate in the preparation or 
issuance of, any audit report with respect to any issuer.” 

4. Because Choi Dow had not registered with the PCAOB, it lacked “the requisite 
qualifications” to issue an audit report dated December 2, 2004.    

5. By participating in the preparation or issuance of an audit report after October 22, 
2003 by an audit firm that was not registered with the PCAOB, Dow lacked “the requisite 
qualifications to represent others.” 

6. In violation of Section 102(a) of the Act, Choi Dow prepared and issued an audit 
report on the financial statements of a reporting company after October 22, 2003, without first 
registering with the Board.  In so doing, Choi Dow thus also willfully violated the federal securities 
laws. 

III. 

In view of the allegations made by the Division of Enforcement, the Commission deems it 
necessary and appropriate that public administrative proceedings be instituted to determine:    

A. Whether the allegations set forth in Section II are true and, in connection therewith, 
to afford Respondents an opportunity to establish any defenses to such allegations;  

B. Whether, pursuant to Sections 4C(a)(1) and 4C(a)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rules 
102(e)(1)(i) and 102(e)(1)(iii) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Choi Dow should be censured 
by the Commission or temporarily or permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing 
before the Commission; and 

C. Whether, pursuant to Section 4C(a)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 102(e)(1)(i) of 
the Commission’s Rules of Practice, Dow should be censured by the Commission or temporarily or 
permanently denied the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission.  

3




IV. 

IT IS ORDERED that a public hearing for the purpose of taking evidence on the questions 
set forth in Section III hereof shall be convened at a time and place to be fixed, and before an 
Administrative Law Judge to be designated by further order as provided by Rule 110 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.110.   

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondents shall file an Answer to the allegations 
contained in this Order within twenty (20) days after service of this Order, as provided by Rule 220 
of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R. § 201.220.  

If Respondents fail to file the directed answer, or fail to appear at a hearing after being duly 
notified, the Respondents may be deemed in default and the proceedings may be determined against 
them upon consideration of this Order, the allegations of which may be deemed to be true as 
provided by Rules 155(a), 220(f), 221(f) and 310 of the Commission's Rules of Practice, 17 C.F.R.  
§§ 201.155(a), 201.220(f), 201.221(f) and 201.310. 

This Order shall be served forthwith upon Respondents personally or by certified mail. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an initial 
decision no later than 300 days from the date of service of this Order, pursuant to Rule 360(a)(2) of 
the Commission’s Rules of Practice. 

In the absence of an appropriate waiver, no officer or employee of the Commission engaged 
in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions in this or any factually related 
proceeding will be permitted to participate or advise in the decision of this matter, except as witness 
or counsel in proceedings held pursuant to notice.  Since this proceeding is not “rule making” within 
the meaning of Section 551 of the Administrative Procedure Act, it is not deemed subject to the 
provisions of Section 553 delaying the effective date of any final Commission action. 

 By the Commission. 

        Nancy  M.  Morris
        Secretary  

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