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Jun 2023Secondary school teacher charged by ICAC sentenced for concealing conflict of interest in workshopA secondary school teacher, charged by the ICAC, was today (June 21) ordered to perform community service for deceiving the school into engaging a service provider to host a workshop for students by concealing that he was the major shareholder of it.Lau Tat-li, 32, former teacher of ELCHK Lutheran Academy (Lutheran Academy), was sentenced to 120 hours of community service by Deputy Magistrate Mr Chu Chung-keung at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts.The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance, and was ordered to repay $48,000 to Lutheran Academy, being the service fee involved in the case.The ICAC reminds school personnel to avoid conflict of interest situations and to make timely declaration in accordance with the internal guidelines of individual schools as concealing any conflict of interest in relation to one’s official duties to benefit himself or his associates may contravene the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance or other criminal laws. Schools could contact ICAC regional offices for arranging corruption prevention and integrity training for staff and refer to the Best Practice Checklist for Governance and Internal Control in Schools.The court heard that at the material time the defendant was a teacher of design subject of Lutheran Academy, a direct subsidy scheme secondary school. Guidelines of Lutheran Academy provided that staff involved in procurement and supplies duties would declare in writing to the Incorporated Management Committee (IMC) of the school any connection they or their families have with any suppliers or contractors as soon as possible.In April 2021, the defendant was assigned to host a robot workshop during the extra curriculum activities week in June 2021. In mid-May, he informed the school that he wanted to host a “Design – Toys and figures maker workshop” instead. He subsequently submitted the quotations of two service providers to the school and recommended to engage Wonder Hobbys. Limited (Wonder Hobbys) at $50,000 to host the workshop for 25 students as its quotation was $2,000 lower than that of its competitor.The procurement was approved by Lutheran Academy and Wonder Hobbys eventually charged the school $48,000 for hosting the workshop attended by 24 students.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that at the material time, the defendant was a director-cum-shareholder of Wonder Hobbys holding 70 per cent of its shares. But the defendant had never disclosed his interest in Wonder Hobbys to the school. Had Lutheran Academy known the defendant’s interest in Wonder Hobbys, it would not have approved awarding the workshop to Wonder Hobbys.It was also revealed that after Wonder Hobbys received the $48,000 service fee, $30,000 out of it was transferred to the personal account of the defendant.Lutheran Academy had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer William Leung. 21
Jun 2023Ex-chair of listed company and car dealer charged by ICAC over $6.2m saloon purchase fraud revealed in graft probeIn the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC, it was revealed that a then chairman of a listed company and a car dealer allegedly inflated the price and the amount of first registration tax of a saloon purchased by the listed company by about $3.1 million. The duo were charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud and fraud today (June 21).Bruce Lee Chun-pong, former executive director cum chairman of PF Group Holdings Limited (PF Group) and Yeung Cho-yiu, director cum shareholder of Billion Target Holdings Limited (Bilion Target), both 39, jointly face one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to common Law. Lee alone further faces one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (June 23) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.When the offences took place between December 2020 and March 2021, Lee was the executive director cum chairman of PF Group, which was listed on the GEM Board. Lee requested Yeung, a car dealer, to source a suitable saloon as he was entrusted to purchase one for the company.It is alleged that Lee and Yeung conspired together to defraud PF Group by dishonestly falsely representing to PF Group that it was required to pay over $3.8 million to Billion Target for purchasing a saloon. Lee also allegedly falsely represented to PF Group that it was required to pay Billion Target about $2.4 million for settling the first registration tax of the saloon. PF Group therefore paid totalling about $6.2 million to Billion Target.ICAC enquiries revealed that the published retail price and the amount of first registration tax of the saloon added up to about $3.1 million.PF Group has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The ICAC attaches great importance to the integrity standard of listed companies, and has been actively promoting corruption prevention services and assisting business organisations in implementing good corporate governance. For details, please visit the webpage of the “Ethics Promotion Programme for Listed Companies”. 19
Jun 2023Ex-site team leader charged by ICAC admits accepting $90,000 bribes from Third Runway Project’s workersA former site team leader of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, today (June 19) admitted at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts that he had conspired with another former site team leader to accept bribes of over $90,000 from four bar-benders for continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.Guo Tianbao, 42, former site team leader for bar-bending works of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to July 17 for mention. Guo was granted bail.The court heard that MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Guo was a site team leader. He and another site team leader led a team of bar-benders working at the project’s construction site.Between August 2020 and April 2021, Guo conspired with the site team leader to accept bribes totalling over $90,000 from four bar-benders to continue their employment with MEL. The bar-benders believed that their employment would be terminated if they did not pay bribes ranging from over $12,000 to about $33,000.Another site team leader, Xu Ergao, 47, was charged with five counts of bribery. No plea was entered today and her case was also adjourned to July 17 for mention.An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to offer advantages in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. Report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.In recent years, the ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against corrupt practice of soliciting and accepting illegal rebates. A total of 23 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project were charged by the ICAC with bribery. Eighteen of them, including Guo, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Xu and two others are awaiting plea or trial.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Ruby Cheung. 12
Jun 2023Ex-HR head of IT firm charged by ICAC admits soliciting bribes from job seekersA former head of the human resources department of an information technology company, charged by ICAC, today (June 12) admitted at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts that he had solicited bribes from three job applicants for assisting them to obtain a higher monthly salary.Chan Chun-po, 35, former manager of Aigens Technology Limited (Aigens), pleaded guilty to three counts of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. The prosecution offered no evidence to two similar charges against him.Magistrate Mr Jacky Ip Kai-leung adjourned the case to June 30 for sentence, pending the defendant’s community service order report. The defendant was granted bail.The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was the head of the human resources department of Aigens, which was an information technology company. Between August and November 2020, the defendant interviewed three job applicants for two posts of engineer and customer service.The defendant told the three job applicants that he could assist them to obtain higher monthly salaries from Aigens, and solicited a bribe of $500, $3,000 or an unspecified sum from the trio respectively. The solicitations were rejected.Aigens did not allow its employees to solicit or accept advantages from job applicants for assisting them to obtain a higher monthly salary from the company.Aigens had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Steven Liu, assisted by ICAC officer Ken Mak. 09
Jun 2023Duo charged by ICAC jailed for assisting team leader to collect bribes from Third Runway Project workersTwo former scaffolders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, were today (June 9) sentenced to three months and four months in jail respectively at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for conspiring with a site team leader to collect bribes totalling about $60,000 from three fellow workers for continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.Zhou Sheng, 58, and Huang Dehou, 42, both former scaffolding construction workers of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), were jailed for three months and four months respectively.Zhou earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, while Huang was earlier found guilty of two counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages after trial, all contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Lee Chi-ho remarked that the defendants acted as the go-between to collect bribes from fellow workers for the site-team leader. The court had to impose custodial sentences on them, given the criminal liability involved.The court heard that at the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Scaffolders Zhou and Huang worked in a team led by then site team leader Zhuang Huitao.At the material time, Zhou introduced another scaffolder to work in Zhuang’s team. Subsequently between September 2020 and June 2021, Zhou assisted Zhuang to accept bribes totalling over $43,000 from the fellow scaffolder, who acceded to the solicitation due to his worries of losing the job opportunity. After collecting bribes every month, Zhou passed the same to Zhuang.Between September 2021 and March 2022, Zhuang conspired with Huang to accept bribes totalling about $17,000 from two other scaffolders for assisting the duo to continue their employment with MEL. The two fellow workers believed that they would be terminated by Zhuang if they did not pay any bribe.Co-defendant Zhuang, 32, former site team leader of MEL, earlier pleaded guilty to the above three and 13 other bribery charges for soliciting and accepting bribes totalling over $180,000 from six scaffolders. His sentence is scheduled for June 23 at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.As the relevant corruption investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to offer advantages in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. Report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Lily Yip, assisted by ICAC officers Lawrence Wong.
Jun 2023Secondary school teacher charged by ICAC sentenced for concealing conflict of interest in workshopA secondary school teacher, charged by the ICAC, was today (June 21) ordered to perform community service for deceiving the school into engaging a service provider to host a workshop for students by concealing that he was the major shareholder of it.Lau Tat-li, 32, former teacher of ELCHK Lutheran Academy (Lutheran Academy), was sentenced to 120 hours of community service by Deputy Magistrate Mr Chu Chung-keung at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts.The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance, and was ordered to repay $48,000 to Lutheran Academy, being the service fee involved in the case.The ICAC reminds school personnel to avoid conflict of interest situations and to make timely declaration in accordance with the internal guidelines of individual schools as concealing any conflict of interest in relation to one’s official duties to benefit himself or his associates may contravene the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance or other criminal laws. Schools could contact ICAC regional offices for arranging corruption prevention and integrity training for staff and refer to the Best Practice Checklist for Governance and Internal Control in Schools.The court heard that at the material time the defendant was a teacher of design subject of Lutheran Academy, a direct subsidy scheme secondary school. Guidelines of Lutheran Academy provided that staff involved in procurement and supplies duties would declare in writing to the Incorporated Management Committee (IMC) of the school any connection they or their families have with any suppliers or contractors as soon as possible.In April 2021, the defendant was assigned to host a robot workshop during the extra curriculum activities week in June 2021. In mid-May, he informed the school that he wanted to host a “Design – Toys and figures maker workshop” instead. He subsequently submitted the quotations of two service providers to the school and recommended to engage Wonder Hobbys. Limited (Wonder Hobbys) at $50,000 to host the workshop for 25 students as its quotation was $2,000 lower than that of its competitor.The procurement was approved by Lutheran Academy and Wonder Hobbys eventually charged the school $48,000 for hosting the workshop attended by 24 students.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that at the material time, the defendant was a director-cum-shareholder of Wonder Hobbys holding 70 per cent of its shares. But the defendant had never disclosed his interest in Wonder Hobbys to the school. Had Lutheran Academy known the defendant’s interest in Wonder Hobbys, it would not have approved awarding the workshop to Wonder Hobbys.It was also revealed that after Wonder Hobbys received the $48,000 service fee, $30,000 out of it was transferred to the personal account of the defendant.Lutheran Academy had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer William Leung. 21
Jun 2023Ex-chair of listed company and car dealer charged by ICAC over $6.2m saloon purchase fraud revealed in graft probeIn the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC, it was revealed that a then chairman of a listed company and a car dealer allegedly inflated the price and the amount of first registration tax of a saloon purchased by the listed company by about $3.1 million. The duo were charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud and fraud today (June 21).Bruce Lee Chun-pong, former executive director cum chairman of PF Group Holdings Limited (PF Group) and Yeung Cho-yiu, director cum shareholder of Billion Target Holdings Limited (Bilion Target), both 39, jointly face one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to common Law. Lee alone further faces one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (June 23) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.When the offences took place between December 2020 and March 2021, Lee was the executive director cum chairman of PF Group, which was listed on the GEM Board. Lee requested Yeung, a car dealer, to source a suitable saloon as he was entrusted to purchase one for the company.It is alleged that Lee and Yeung conspired together to defraud PF Group by dishonestly falsely representing to PF Group that it was required to pay over $3.8 million to Billion Target for purchasing a saloon. Lee also allegedly falsely represented to PF Group that it was required to pay Billion Target about $2.4 million for settling the first registration tax of the saloon. PF Group therefore paid totalling about $6.2 million to Billion Target.ICAC enquiries revealed that the published retail price and the amount of first registration tax of the saloon added up to about $3.1 million.PF Group has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The ICAC attaches great importance to the integrity standard of listed companies, and has been actively promoting corruption prevention services and assisting business organisations in implementing good corporate governance. For details, please visit the webpage of the “Ethics Promotion Programme for Listed Companies”. 19
Jun 2023Ex-site team leader charged by ICAC admits accepting $90,000 bribes from Third Runway Project’s workersA former site team leader of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, today (June 19) admitted at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts that he had conspired with another former site team leader to accept bribes of over $90,000 from four bar-benders for continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.Guo Tianbao, 42, former site team leader for bar-bending works of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to July 17 for mention. Guo was granted bail.The court heard that MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Guo was a site team leader. He and another site team leader led a team of bar-benders working at the project’s construction site.Between August 2020 and April 2021, Guo conspired with the site team leader to accept bribes totalling over $90,000 from four bar-benders to continue their employment with MEL. The bar-benders believed that their employment would be terminated if they did not pay bribes ranging from over $12,000 to about $33,000.Another site team leader, Xu Ergao, 47, was charged with five counts of bribery. No plea was entered today and her case was also adjourned to July 17 for mention.An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to offer advantages in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. Report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.In recent years, the ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against corrupt practice of soliciting and accepting illegal rebates. A total of 23 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project were charged by the ICAC with bribery. Eighteen of them, including Guo, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Xu and two others are awaiting plea or trial.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Ruby Cheung. 12
Jun 2023Ex-HR head of IT firm charged by ICAC admits soliciting bribes from job seekersA former head of the human resources department of an information technology company, charged by ICAC, today (June 12) admitted at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts that he had solicited bribes from three job applicants for assisting them to obtain a higher monthly salary.Chan Chun-po, 35, former manager of Aigens Technology Limited (Aigens), pleaded guilty to three counts of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. The prosecution offered no evidence to two similar charges against him.Magistrate Mr Jacky Ip Kai-leung adjourned the case to June 30 for sentence, pending the defendant’s community service order report. The defendant was granted bail.The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was the head of the human resources department of Aigens, which was an information technology company. Between August and November 2020, the defendant interviewed three job applicants for two posts of engineer and customer service.The defendant told the three job applicants that he could assist them to obtain higher monthly salaries from Aigens, and solicited a bribe of $500, $3,000 or an unspecified sum from the trio respectively. The solicitations were rejected.Aigens did not allow its employees to solicit or accept advantages from job applicants for assisting them to obtain a higher monthly salary from the company.Aigens had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Steven Liu, assisted by ICAC officer Ken Mak. 09
Jun 2023Duo charged by ICAC jailed for assisting team leader to collect bribes from Third Runway Project workersTwo former scaffolders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, were today (June 9) sentenced to three months and four months in jail respectively at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for conspiring with a site team leader to collect bribes totalling about $60,000 from three fellow workers for continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.Zhou Sheng, 58, and Huang Dehou, 42, both former scaffolding construction workers of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), were jailed for three months and four months respectively.Zhou earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, while Huang was earlier found guilty of two counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages after trial, all contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Lee Chi-ho remarked that the defendants acted as the go-between to collect bribes from fellow workers for the site-team leader. The court had to impose custodial sentences on them, given the criminal liability involved.The court heard that at the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Scaffolders Zhou and Huang worked in a team led by then site team leader Zhuang Huitao.At the material time, Zhou introduced another scaffolder to work in Zhuang’s team. Subsequently between September 2020 and June 2021, Zhou assisted Zhuang to accept bribes totalling over $43,000 from the fellow scaffolder, who acceded to the solicitation due to his worries of losing the job opportunity. After collecting bribes every month, Zhou passed the same to Zhuang.Between September 2021 and March 2022, Zhuang conspired with Huang to accept bribes totalling about $17,000 from two other scaffolders for assisting the duo to continue their employment with MEL. The two fellow workers believed that they would be terminated by Zhuang if they did not pay any bribe.Co-defendant Zhuang, 32, former site team leader of MEL, earlier pleaded guilty to the above three and 13 other bribery charges for soliciting and accepting bribes totalling over $180,000 from six scaffolders. His sentence is scheduled for June 23 at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.As the relevant corruption investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to offer advantages in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. Report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Lily Yip, assisted by ICAC officers Lawrence Wong.