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May 2023Ex-Third Runway Project construction worker jailed for six months for accepting bribes from fellow workersA former rigger of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, was today (May 30) sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes from two other riggers for securing and continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.Lu Wuhu, 47, former rigger of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), was earlier found guilty of three counts of conspiracy for agents to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jeffrey Sze Cho-yiu said the defendant had breached the trust placed in him by his employer, warranting a deterrent sentence. The Magistrate had earlier ordered the defendants to pay $4,500, being the bribes involved in the case, as restitutions to MEL.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. Lu was employed as a rigger. Between April and May 2021, Lu accepted bribes totalling $4,500 from two other riggers for assisting them to secure and continue their employment with MEL.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 practices of similar nature to this case. 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. Seventeen of them, including Lu, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Four others are awaiting plea or trial.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, SAPR JV and MEL have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sher Hon-piu, assisted by ICAC officers Kyle Tang and Christine Chiang. 30
May 2023Duo charged by ICAC with money laundering for allegedly conspiring with dummy insurance agent to handle $960,000 commissionsIn the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC, it was revealed that two insurance agents allegedly recruited a person to pose as a dummy insurance agent to obtain commissions and bonuses totalling over $960,000 by making false representations that 13 insurance policies were handled by the latter, and collected most of the sum from the dummy insurance agent. The duo were charged with conspiracy to launder crime proceeds yesterday (May 29).Kong Chun-ming, 39, and Yau Lai-in, 38, both insurance agents, jointly face one count of conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 31) for plea.At the material time, Kong and Yau were insurance agents for an insurer. In May 2019, the duo arranged a friend of Kong to pose as a dummy insurance agent at Chubb Life Insurance Company Limited (Chubb). Chubb subsequently received 13 insurance policy applications and released commissions and bonuses of over $960,000 to the dummy agent who was named as the handling agent.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the dummy agent did not handle those insurance policies. Upon the defendants’ request, the dummy agent transferred about $840,000 from the commissions and bonuses to bank accounts held by the defendants and retained over $120,000 as his rewards.It is alleged that between May 2019 and August 2020, Kong and Yau conspired together with the dummy agent and other persons to deal with the aforementioned commissions and bonuses of over $960,000, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.Au Yeung Yu-huan, 45, the dummy agent concerned, was earlier charged with one count of conspiracy to launder crime proceeds. He pleaded guilty to the charge and his case was adjourned to September 18 for mention.Chubb has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 24
May 2023Man jailed for six months for bribing CVC nurse over COVID-19 jab recordA man, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 24) sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for bribing a nurse of a Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) with $1,000 for obtaining a vaccination record without inoculating the COVID-19 vaccine.Cheung Chin-hang, 25, community health practitioner of a District Health Centre, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han said it was selfish of the defendant to ask the nurse to assist him in getting a fake vaccination record when the government spared no effort to keep the severe epidemic situation under control. The offence involved was serious in nature and the Acting Principal Magistrate took a starting point of nine months’ imprisonment and reduced the jail term of the defendant to six months having considered his guilty plea.At that time, the defendant worked at a District Health Centre under the Health Bureau, which was a government designated healthcare premises subject to the Vaccine Pass Arrangement. In order to enter his workplace, he was required to comply with the arrangement by receiving designated doses of COVID-19 vaccine or possessing a valid medical exemption certificate.The court heard that on September 21, 2022, the defendant visited Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Center CVC and offered $1,000 to an enrolled nurse for issuing a vaccination record without inoculating the COVID-19 vaccine. The nurse did not accede to his request and reported the matter to Quality HealthCare Medical Services Limited (QHMS) which operated the CVC.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that the medical exemption certificate of the defendant expired one day before he visited the abovementioned CVC. The defendant claimed that he was unwell after receiving the first jab and so he tried to bribe the nurse to get a vaccination record.QHMS and the Department of Health had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Stanley Sizto. 22
May 2023Subcontractor of private residential project charged as ICAC probe reveals $9.6m wage fraudThe ICAC charged five people last Friday (May 19) after it was revealed in the course of a corruption investigation that the company secretary and the director of a subcontractor of a construction project allegedly conspired with others to defraud a contractor of about $9.6 million by falsifying wages information of workers.The five defendants, aged between 35 and 61, are Hon Sang, company secretary of Honsang Company Limited (Honsang); his wife Ada Law Yin-nei and younger brother Hon Kai-keung, respectively the sole director-cum-shareholder and worker of Honsang; and two other workers of Honsang, Leung Wing-chak and So Yiu-keung.They face two counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 23) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, Honsang was a subcontractor of aluminium and glass related works of a private residential construction project on Borrett Road in Mid-Levels. Honsang was required to submit to CR Construction Company Limited (CR Construction), a contractor of the project, documents in relation to wage payments, including copies of cheques issued to workers and the relevant receipts, to reimburse expenses on an accountable basis.It is alleged that between September 2018 and April 2019, the Hon couple, Hon Kai-keung and Leung conspired together to defraud CR Construction by falsely representing to CR Construction that designated sums would be used for the purpose of paying wages to workers, causing CR Construction to issue cheques to Honsang to settle the payment.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that during the abovementioned period, CR Construction received from Honsang photocopies of over 1,200 cheques totalling about $30 million purporting that wages were paid to workers. Enquiries also found that over 500 cheques were not encashed. Moreover, 43 cheques in which the names of the payees and the amount being falsified were deposited into bank accounts of the Hon couple, Hon Kai-keung and Leung, involving totalling about $9.3 million.It is also alleged that between May and August 2019, the Hon couple, Leung and So conspired together with another worker of Honsang to defraud CR Construction, causing it to overpay those workers about $300,000.ICAC investigation revealed that during the aforesaid period, CR Construction changed to pay Honsang’s workers directly. The Hon couple and others allegedly overstated workers’ wages and instructed workers to return the wages overpaid by CR Construction to Honsang.CR Construction has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 19
May 2023Duo charged by ICAC with money laundering for allegedly conspiring with dummy insurance agent to handle $270,000 commissionsIn the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC, it was revealed that two insurance agents allegedly recruited a person to pose as dummy insurance agent to obtain commissions and bonuses totalling over $270,000 by making false representations that three insurance policies were handled by the latter, and collected most of the sum from the dummy insurance agent. The duo were charged with conspiracy to launder crime proceeds yesterday (May 18).Cheng Yik-lut, 30, and Jovi Leung Kin-fung, 29, both insurance agents, jointly face one count of conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (May 22) for plea.It is alleged that in 2019, the defendants arranged Cheng’s cousin to pose as a dummy insurance agent at Chubb Life Insurance Company Limited (Chubb). Chubb subsequently received three insurance policy applications of Cheng. Cheng’s cousin was named as the handling agent and received commissions and bonuses of over $270,000 from Chubb.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the cousin was not actually the handling agent of the three insurance policies. Upon the defendants’ request, the cousin transferred over $240,000 to designated bank accounts and retained about $27,000 as his rewards.It is alleged that between May 2019 and June 2020, Cheng and Leung conspired together with Cheng’s cousin and other persons to deal with the aforementioned commissions and bonuses of over $270,000, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.Cheng’s cousin, Cheng Tsz-sing, 28, was earlier charged with one count of conspiracy to launder crime proceeds. He pleaded guilty to the charge and his case was adjourned to June 6 for mention.Chubb has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
May 2023Ex-Third Runway Project construction worker jailed for six months for accepting bribes from fellow workersA former rigger of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, was today (May 30) sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes from two other riggers for securing and continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.Lu Wuhu, 47, former rigger of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), was earlier found guilty of three counts of conspiracy for agents to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jeffrey Sze Cho-yiu said the defendant had breached the trust placed in him by his employer, warranting a deterrent sentence. The Magistrate had earlier ordered the defendants to pay $4,500, being the bribes involved in the case, as restitutions to MEL.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. Lu was employed as a rigger. Between April and May 2021, Lu accepted bribes totalling $4,500 from two other riggers for assisting them to secure and continue their employment with MEL.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 practices of similar nature to this case. 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. Seventeen of them, including Lu, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Four others are awaiting plea or trial.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, SAPR JV and MEL have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sher Hon-piu, assisted by ICAC officers Kyle Tang and Christine Chiang. 30
May 2023Duo charged by ICAC with money laundering for allegedly conspiring with dummy insurance agent to handle $960,000 commissionsIn the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC, it was revealed that two insurance agents allegedly recruited a person to pose as a dummy insurance agent to obtain commissions and bonuses totalling over $960,000 by making false representations that 13 insurance policies were handled by the latter, and collected most of the sum from the dummy insurance agent. The duo were charged with conspiracy to launder crime proceeds yesterday (May 29).Kong Chun-ming, 39, and Yau Lai-in, 38, both insurance agents, jointly face one count of conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 31) for plea.At the material time, Kong and Yau were insurance agents for an insurer. In May 2019, the duo arranged a friend of Kong to pose as a dummy insurance agent at Chubb Life Insurance Company Limited (Chubb). Chubb subsequently received 13 insurance policy applications and released commissions and bonuses of over $960,000 to the dummy agent who was named as the handling agent.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the dummy agent did not handle those insurance policies. Upon the defendants’ request, the dummy agent transferred about $840,000 from the commissions and bonuses to bank accounts held by the defendants and retained over $120,000 as his rewards.It is alleged that between May 2019 and August 2020, Kong and Yau conspired together with the dummy agent and other persons to deal with the aforementioned commissions and bonuses of over $960,000, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.Au Yeung Yu-huan, 45, the dummy agent concerned, was earlier charged with one count of conspiracy to launder crime proceeds. He pleaded guilty to the charge and his case was adjourned to September 18 for mention.Chubb has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 24
May 2023Man jailed for six months for bribing CVC nurse over COVID-19 jab recordA man, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 24) sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for bribing a nurse of a Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) with $1,000 for obtaining a vaccination record without inoculating the COVID-19 vaccine.Cheung Chin-hang, 25, community health practitioner of a District Health Centre, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han said it was selfish of the defendant to ask the nurse to assist him in getting a fake vaccination record when the government spared no effort to keep the severe epidemic situation under control. The offence involved was serious in nature and the Acting Principal Magistrate took a starting point of nine months’ imprisonment and reduced the jail term of the defendant to six months having considered his guilty plea.At that time, the defendant worked at a District Health Centre under the Health Bureau, which was a government designated healthcare premises subject to the Vaccine Pass Arrangement. In order to enter his workplace, he was required to comply with the arrangement by receiving designated doses of COVID-19 vaccine or possessing a valid medical exemption certificate.The court heard that on September 21, 2022, the defendant visited Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Center CVC and offered $1,000 to an enrolled nurse for issuing a vaccination record without inoculating the COVID-19 vaccine. The nurse did not accede to his request and reported the matter to Quality HealthCare Medical Services Limited (QHMS) which operated the CVC.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that the medical exemption certificate of the defendant expired one day before he visited the abovementioned CVC. The defendant claimed that he was unwell after receiving the first jab and so he tried to bribe the nurse to get a vaccination record.QHMS and the Department of Health had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Stanley Sizto. 22
May 2023Subcontractor of private residential project charged as ICAC probe reveals $9.6m wage fraudThe ICAC charged five people last Friday (May 19) after it was revealed in the course of a corruption investigation that the company secretary and the director of a subcontractor of a construction project allegedly conspired with others to defraud a contractor of about $9.6 million by falsifying wages information of workers.The five defendants, aged between 35 and 61, are Hon Sang, company secretary of Honsang Company Limited (Honsang); his wife Ada Law Yin-nei and younger brother Hon Kai-keung, respectively the sole director-cum-shareholder and worker of Honsang; and two other workers of Honsang, Leung Wing-chak and So Yiu-keung.They face two counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. All defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (May 23) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, Honsang was a subcontractor of aluminium and glass related works of a private residential construction project on Borrett Road in Mid-Levels. Honsang was required to submit to CR Construction Company Limited (CR Construction), a contractor of the project, documents in relation to wage payments, including copies of cheques issued to workers and the relevant receipts, to reimburse expenses on an accountable basis.It is alleged that between September 2018 and April 2019, the Hon couple, Hon Kai-keung and Leung conspired together to defraud CR Construction by falsely representing to CR Construction that designated sums would be used for the purpose of paying wages to workers, causing CR Construction to issue cheques to Honsang to settle the payment.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that during the abovementioned period, CR Construction received from Honsang photocopies of over 1,200 cheques totalling about $30 million purporting that wages were paid to workers. Enquiries also found that over 500 cheques were not encashed. Moreover, 43 cheques in which the names of the payees and the amount being falsified were deposited into bank accounts of the Hon couple, Hon Kai-keung and Leung, involving totalling about $9.3 million.It is also alleged that between May and August 2019, the Hon couple, Leung and So conspired together with another worker of Honsang to defraud CR Construction, causing it to overpay those workers about $300,000.ICAC investigation revealed that during the aforesaid period, CR Construction changed to pay Honsang’s workers directly. The Hon couple and others allegedly overstated workers’ wages and instructed workers to return the wages overpaid by CR Construction to Honsang.CR Construction has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 19
May 2023Duo charged by ICAC with money laundering for allegedly conspiring with dummy insurance agent to handle $270,000 commissionsIn the course of a corruption investigation by the ICAC, it was revealed that two insurance agents allegedly recruited a person to pose as dummy insurance agent to obtain commissions and bonuses totalling over $270,000 by making false representations that three insurance policies were handled by the latter, and collected most of the sum from the dummy insurance agent. The duo were charged with conspiracy to launder crime proceeds yesterday (May 18).Cheng Yik-lut, 30, and Jovi Leung Kin-fung, 29, both insurance agents, jointly face one count of conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (May 22) for plea.It is alleged that in 2019, the defendants arranged Cheng’s cousin to pose as a dummy insurance agent at Chubb Life Insurance Company Limited (Chubb). Chubb subsequently received three insurance policy applications of Cheng. Cheng’s cousin was named as the handling agent and received commissions and bonuses of over $270,000 from Chubb.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the cousin was not actually the handling agent of the three insurance policies. Upon the defendants’ request, the cousin transferred over $240,000 to designated bank accounts and retained about $27,000 as his rewards.It is alleged that between May 2019 and June 2020, Cheng and Leung conspired together with Cheng’s cousin and other persons to deal with the aforementioned commissions and bonuses of over $270,000, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.Cheng’s cousin, Cheng Tsz-sing, 28, was earlier charged with one count of conspiracy to launder crime proceeds. He pleaded guilty to the charge and his case was adjourned to June 6 for mention.Chubb has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.