Integrity Focus

A then property agent was charged by the ICAC yesterday (March 26) for allegedly bribing his up-line manager for conniving at his absence from duty for months and falsifying his attendance records to defraud a property agency of salary payments totalling over $58,000. The duo were also suspected of defrauding the company of commissions by making false representation about the handling agent in a property transaction.

Wong Man-pan, 30, then property agent of Midland Realty International Limited (Midland Realty), faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. Wong further jointly faces one count of fraud with Leung Kit, branch manager of Midland Realty, 31. The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (March 28) for plea.

At the material time, Leung was the manager of a branch of Midland Realty in Tseung Kwan O while Wong was his down-line property agent. All property agents of Midland Realty were required to clock their attendance at the workplace by electronic means. Branch managers were required to report to their supervisors any unusual absences of their subordinates.

It is alleged that between late May and late December 2021, Wong, together with Leung, had falsely represented to Midland Realty that the attendance records of Wong in the eight months were genuine, and with intent to defraud, induced Midland Realty to make salary payments totalling over $58,000 to him. Upon receiving the salary payments, Wong was suspected of offering a bribe of a few thousand dollars per month, totalling $38,000, to Leung for conniving at Wong’s absence from duty.

In addition, it is alleged that between late June 2021 and mid-July 2022, Leung and Wong had falsely represented to Midland Realty that Wong was the handling agent of the sale and purchase transaction of a private residential property in Sha Tin, and with intent to defraud, induced Midland Realty to overpay commissions in the total sum of over $22,000 to the duo.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that at the material time, Wong had worked as a full-time waiter at a restaurant. He had indeed only worked in Midland Realty for a few days and had no involvement in the Sha Tin property transaction.

Midland Realty rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.