Integrity Focus
Recent ICAC Cases
Sep 2024Ex-security supervisor of private residential estate charged by ICAC for accepting bribes from subordinates for arranging favourable shifts
The ICAC yesterday (September 9) charged a former security supervisor of a private residential estate with allegedly accepting bribes totalling over $10,000 from four subordinate security guards for assigning them to work on special shifts with extra allowances.
Tang Kwong-cheung, 59, former night-shift security supervisor of Bedford Gardens, a private residential estate in North Point, faces five counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (September 11) for plea.
Between August 2021 and February 2023, the defendant was a night-shift security supervisor of Bedford Gardens responsible for supervising all night-shift security guards, assigning their duties and preparing duty rosters. The defendant and all security guards working in the estate were employed by the Incorporated Owners (IO) of Bedford Gardens.
Due to a shortage of manpower, some night-shift security guards were assigned to work on special shifts. A security guard working on special shifts would also be required to perform security duties at more than one block of the estate. Since January 2022, each of the security guards assigned to special shifts would receive an allowance of $150 per shift from the IO.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that between January 2022 and January 2023, the defendant allegedly accepted bribes of $300 per month from each of his four subordinates, totalling over $10,000, for assigning them to work on special shifts. It was also revealed that after some of the subordinate security guards refused to pay the defendant, they were stopped from being assigned to any special shift, and were even picked on by the defendant intentionally at work.
IO of Bedford Gardens prohibited its employees from soliciting, accepting or offering any advantages in relation to the estate’s affairs or business.
IO of Bedford Gardens rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.