Recent ICAC Cases

12
Sep 2024
Two former formwork team leaders of public housing project subcontractor charged by ICAC with bribery over workers’ employment
The ICAC today (September 12) charged two former formwork team leaders of a public housing estate construction project subcontractor with allegedly accepting and soliciting bribes totalling about $44,000 from two workers as a condition for them to be employed by the subcontractor.

Tse Lam Hung-kay, 33; and Liu Wei, 47, both were former team leaders of formwork workers of Bik Hoi Civil Engineering Company Limited (Bik Hoi). Tse faces seven counts of agent accepting an advantage while Liu faces one count of agent soliciting an advantage and one of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on next Monday (September 16) for plea.

At the material time, Bik Hoi was the formwork subcontractor of a public housing estate construction project under Housing Department in Kwun Tong. The two defendants were team leaders of formwork workers responsible for supervising other formwork workers.

It is alleged that between December 2021 and June 2022, Tse Lam Hung-kay accepted bribes totalling about $39,000 from two workers on seven occasions as a condition for them to be employed by Bik Hoi. In addition, Liu Wei is alleged to have solicited rebates from the two aforementioned workers in July 2022 for the same purpose, and accepted about $4,800 from one of the two workers.

The ICAC investigation, arose from relevant corruption complaints, revealed that the daily wage of the two workers was $1,450. The two defendants were alleged to have accepted a daily rebate of $200 from them.
Bik Hoi prohibited its employees from soliciting or accepting advantages for offering assistance in others’ employment.

Bik Hoi had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The ICAC stresses that soliciting or accepting bribes for assisting others in employment is a serious bribery offence. The maximum penalty on conviction of the offence is a seven-year imprisonment and a fine of $500,000. The ICAC also urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to pay bribes in exchange for their employment, they should reject and report to the ICAC immediately through the 24-hour hotline (25 266 366).
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