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Mar 2025Subcontractor duo implicated in CEDD project contractor’s then deputy general manager bribery case charged by ICACThe ICAC had earlier charged a then deputy general manager of a contractor of a works project in Tseung Kwan O of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) with conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage for allegedly reaching an agreement with a subcontractor to accept a bribe of $2 million in relation to securing a subcontract of the project, which subsequently did not materialise. Two other individuals associated with the subcontractor were charged by the Commission yesterday (March 3) with bribery.In September last year, Xu Wenju, 41, then deputy general manager of the Hong Kong Representative Office, China Railway 15th Bureau Group Company Limited (CR15); and Ng Koon-shing, 61, operator of Hanki Contractors (Hong Kong) & Associates Limited (Hanki), were charged with one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Upon receipt of further legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC yesterday further charged two individuals with conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage. They were Ng Kwok-hei, 74, director cum shareholder of Hanki; and Kenus Lai Wai-keung, 47, merchant. The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (March 5) for mention. The prosecution will apply for consolidation of two cases and transferring the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, Xu was the deputy general manager of the Hong Kong Representative Office of CR15 responsible for overseeing the company’s construction projects in Hong Kong. Hanki was set up by Ng Kwok-hei. Ng Koon-shing was an operator of Hanki at the material time while Lai, a merchant, was an associate of Ng Kwok-hei and Ng Koon-shing.Since May 2022, CR15 had collaborated with another construction company to jointly manage a site formation and infrastructure works project of the CEDD in Tseung Kwan O. Xu represented CR15 to join the management committee of the project to approve tenders submitted by subcontractors and handle relevant supervision matters.It is alleged that between July and November 2022, Ng Kwok-hei and Lai had conspired together with Xu and Ng Koon-shing for Xu to agree to accept from Ng Koon-shing a bribe of $2 million for assisting Hanki to secure the slope and soil nail works subcontract of the project.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the four defendants had allegedly reached a bribery agreement during the period. It was also revealed that Hanki would not have been invited to bid for the works if Xu had not recommended it to the management committee of the project. During the tender exercise, Hanki had received advice and assistance from Xu. The contract was eventually not awarded to Hanki as it was not the lowest bidder.The CEDD and CR15 had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 03
Mar 2025Pending committal to High Court: Account supervisor of party products supplier charged by ICAC over $18m theft by forging signatures on chequesA then account supervisor of a party products supplier appeared in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (March 3) after being charged by the ICAC for alleged misappropriation of about $18 million of company funds by forging the signatures on almost 500 cheques. The case was adjourned, pending committal to the High Court for plea.Tam Chun-fung, 47, then account and administration supervisor of DSL Holding Limited (DSL), faces seven counts of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Mr Don So Man-lung adjourned the case to April 28, pending committal to the High Court for plea, and granted bail to the defendant.The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. At the material time, the defendant was the sole staff member of the accounting department of DSL, a party products supplier. He was responsible for preparing and safekeeping all accounting records and cheques of the company, but he was not a signatory of the bank account of DSL.The charges allege that between August 2017 and February 2024, the defendant had stolen from DSL various sums of money totalling about $18 million.ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant had allegedly made false claims to the company that expenses were incurred for purchasing materials or settling payments with manufacturers, and forged the signatures on almost 500 cheques to withdraw about $18 million in total from the bank account of DSL.DSL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Vincent Ching. 26
Feb 2025Seven months’ jail for site team leader of Third Runway Project charged by ICAC for accepting bribes of $160,000 from workersA then site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, was today (February 26) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to seven months’ imprisonment for accepting bribes totalling about $160,000 from four carpenters for securing their employment.He Yuchuan, 57, then site team leader of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), earlier this month pleaded guilty to six counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He was also ordered to pay MEL a restitution of about $160,000, equivalent to the amount of bribes he received.In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Cheng Lim-chi reprimanded He for soliciting bribes from hard-working workers and lowering their hard-earned rewards. While workers acceded to He’s requests due to fear of losing their jobs, the amount of bribes involved in the present case was not insignificant. The court had to impose a custodial sentence on He.Chow Kwai-fai, 50, another then MEL site team leader charged by the ICAC in the case for allegedly accepting bribes of about $44,000 from a carpenter by blackmail, earlier pleaded not guilty to one count of bribery and one count of blackmail. His case was set for trial on March 26.At the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. The duo led two teams of carpenters to work at the project’s construction site and had the authority to assign work to workers. MEL did not allow any employees to solicit or accept any advantages from other employees for assisting the latter to secure their employment with the company.The court heard that between September 2020 and January 2022, He had demanded bribes ranging from $100 to $200 per working day from four carpenters under his supervision. The four workers paid bribes to He reluctantly as they believed that they would have been terminated if they did not accede to He’s solicitation. As a result, He accepted bribes totalling about $160,000 from the four workers.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Lawrence Wong. 26
Feb 2025Then director of duty-free chain store charged by ICAC guilty of conspiracy to defraud over $12m inflated prices red wine purchasesThe ICAC had earlier charged two then senior executives of a duty-free chain store, who had concealed their conflicting interest in companies set up by them, with conspiracy to defraud for purchasing and reselling bottled red wine sourced from a French supplier to the chain store for profit by inflating the prices by $12 million. Following the guilty plea of a then general manager implicated, a then director was today (February 26) convicted of the offence after trial at the District Court.Au Tsz-kei, 70, then merchandising and buying director of Sky Connection Limited (Sky Connection), was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. In convicting Au, Judge Mr Clement Lee Hing-nin reprimanded the defendant for committing the serious offence out of greed.Co-defendant Lau Shu-yin, 78, then general manager of Sky Connection, earlier pleaded guilty to the offence.The judge adjourned the case to March 13 for mitigation and sentence. The two defendants were granted bail. Hearing on the application for a confiscation order filed by the prosecution was adjourned to a date to be fixed.The present case arose from a corruption complaint received by the ICAC in mid-2019. At the material time, Sky Connection sold duty-free goods under the business name “Free Duty”. The merchandising and buying department, headed by Au, used to source bottled red wine from a winery in France directly for sale at “Free Duty” shops.The court heard that since August 2004, the two defendants had arranged Sky Connection to place purchase orders with the French winery via Jetfair Development Limited (Jetfair) and Master Good Trading Limited (Master Good). Between August 2004 and May 2011, Sky Connection had placed 56 purchase orders incurring payments totalling over $26 million through Jetfair and Master Good. ICAC enquiries revealed that Jetfair and Master Good had actually sourced the 56 batches of bottled red wine from the French winery at over $14 million and resold them to Sky Connection at inflated prices, causing Sky Connection to make extra payments of over $12 million.The ICAC investigation also revealed that Master Good and Jetfair were in fact funded by individuals including Au and Lau. Lau and his daughter were respectively the sole shareholder-cum-director of Master Good and Jetfair. Sky Connection required its staff to declare any conflict of interest and prohibited them from engaging in any business which might have a conflict with the company. But Au and Lau had never disclosed to Sky Connection their associations with Master Good and Jetfair.In addition, Au and Lau each shared part of the generated profits in the scam under an agreement. Lau had earlier admitted that he had received $2 million in total.Sky Connection rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Alex Ng, assisted by ICAC officer May Lam. 24
Feb 2025Then-construction consultant of fast-food restaurant chain charged by ICAC with bribery for accepting watch worth of $80,000 from contractor coupleA then construction consultant of a fast-food restaurant chain was charged by the ICAC last Friday (February 21) for allegedly accepting a watch worth over $80,000 from contractor couple for showing favour to their renovation company. The trio were respectively charged with offering and accepting a bribe.Ling Mun-tong, 45, then construction consultant of MHK Restaurants Limited (MHK), faces one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).Two co-defendants of the case, Chow Chi-kuen, 48, engineering manager of Wardson Deco-Construction Limited (Wardson), and his wife Chan Chin-yu, 30, Director-cum-shareholder of Wardson, jointly face one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(b) of the POBO.The trio were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 25) for plea.MHK operated over 200 fast food restaurants in Hong Kong under the brand name of McDonald’s. Its business development department was responsible for renovation projects of the restaurants. At the material time, Ling was a construction consultant of the department. He was responsible for conducting tender exercise, including inviting approved contractors to submit tenders, submitting tender analysis and making recommendations, as well as overseeing progress of the projects. Wardson was one of the approved contractors of MHK.It is alleged that on December 2, 2023, Ling had accepted a watch at the value of over $80,000 from the Chows as a reward for showing favour to Wardson in relation to the affairs of MHK. Meanwhile, the Chows had allegedly offered the watch to Ling for him to show favour.Between September 2021 and December 2023, Wardson was awarded 34 renovation projects and minor works of MHK and 14 variation orders in the total cover of over $18 million.MHK had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.Ling was also implicated in a bank mortgage loan fraud case. He was charged with one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. The case was also scheduled for plea at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow.
Mar 2025Subcontractor duo implicated in CEDD project contractor’s then deputy general manager bribery case charged by ICACThe ICAC had earlier charged a then deputy general manager of a contractor of a works project in Tseung Kwan O of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) with conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage for allegedly reaching an agreement with a subcontractor to accept a bribe of $2 million in relation to securing a subcontract of the project, which subsequently did not materialise. Two other individuals associated with the subcontractor were charged by the Commission yesterday (March 3) with bribery.In September last year, Xu Wenju, 41, then deputy general manager of the Hong Kong Representative Office, China Railway 15th Bureau Group Company Limited (CR15); and Ng Koon-shing, 61, operator of Hanki Contractors (Hong Kong) & Associates Limited (Hanki), were charged with one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Upon receipt of further legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC yesterday further charged two individuals with conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage. They were Ng Kwok-hei, 74, director cum shareholder of Hanki; and Kenus Lai Wai-keung, 47, merchant. The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (March 5) for mention. The prosecution will apply for consolidation of two cases and transferring the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, Xu was the deputy general manager of the Hong Kong Representative Office of CR15 responsible for overseeing the company’s construction projects in Hong Kong. Hanki was set up by Ng Kwok-hei. Ng Koon-shing was an operator of Hanki at the material time while Lai, a merchant, was an associate of Ng Kwok-hei and Ng Koon-shing.Since May 2022, CR15 had collaborated with another construction company to jointly manage a site formation and infrastructure works project of the CEDD in Tseung Kwan O. Xu represented CR15 to join the management committee of the project to approve tenders submitted by subcontractors and handle relevant supervision matters.It is alleged that between July and November 2022, Ng Kwok-hei and Lai had conspired together with Xu and Ng Koon-shing for Xu to agree to accept from Ng Koon-shing a bribe of $2 million for assisting Hanki to secure the slope and soil nail works subcontract of the project.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the four defendants had allegedly reached a bribery agreement during the period. It was also revealed that Hanki would not have been invited to bid for the works if Xu had not recommended it to the management committee of the project. During the tender exercise, Hanki had received advice and assistance from Xu. The contract was eventually not awarded to Hanki as it was not the lowest bidder.The CEDD and CR15 had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 03
Mar 2025Pending committal to High Court: Account supervisor of party products supplier charged by ICAC over $18m theft by forging signatures on chequesA then account supervisor of a party products supplier appeared in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (March 3) after being charged by the ICAC for alleged misappropriation of about $18 million of company funds by forging the signatures on almost 500 cheques. The case was adjourned, pending committal to the High Court for plea.Tam Chun-fung, 47, then account and administration supervisor of DSL Holding Limited (DSL), faces seven counts of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.No plea was taken today. Principal Magistrate Mr Don So Man-lung adjourned the case to April 28, pending committal to the High Court for plea, and granted bail to the defendant.The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. At the material time, the defendant was the sole staff member of the accounting department of DSL, a party products supplier. He was responsible for preparing and safekeeping all accounting records and cheques of the company, but he was not a signatory of the bank account of DSL.The charges allege that between August 2017 and February 2024, the defendant had stolen from DSL various sums of money totalling about $18 million.ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant had allegedly made false claims to the company that expenses were incurred for purchasing materials or settling payments with manufacturers, and forged the signatures on almost 500 cheques to withdraw about $18 million in total from the bank account of DSL.DSL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Vincent Ching. 26
Feb 2025Seven months’ jail for site team leader of Third Runway Project charged by ICAC for accepting bribes of $160,000 from workersA then site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, was today (February 26) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to seven months’ imprisonment for accepting bribes totalling about $160,000 from four carpenters for securing their employment.He Yuchuan, 57, then site team leader of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), earlier this month pleaded guilty to six counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He was also ordered to pay MEL a restitution of about $160,000, equivalent to the amount of bribes he received.In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Cheng Lim-chi reprimanded He for soliciting bribes from hard-working workers and lowering their hard-earned rewards. While workers acceded to He’s requests due to fear of losing their jobs, the amount of bribes involved in the present case was not insignificant. The court had to impose a custodial sentence on He.Chow Kwai-fai, 50, another then MEL site team leader charged by the ICAC in the case for allegedly accepting bribes of about $44,000 from a carpenter by blackmail, earlier pleaded not guilty to one count of bribery and one count of blackmail. His case was set for trial on March 26.At the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. The duo led two teams of carpenters to work at the project’s construction site and had the authority to assign work to workers. MEL did not allow any employees to solicit or accept any advantages from other employees for assisting the latter to secure their employment with the company.The court heard that between September 2020 and January 2022, He had demanded bribes ranging from $100 to $200 per working day from four carpenters under his supervision. The four workers paid bribes to He reluctantly as they believed that they would have been terminated if they did not accede to He’s solicitation. As a result, He accepted bribes totalling about $160,000 from the four workers.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Lawrence Wong. 26
Feb 2025Then director of duty-free chain store charged by ICAC guilty of conspiracy to defraud over $12m inflated prices red wine purchasesThe ICAC had earlier charged two then senior executives of a duty-free chain store, who had concealed their conflicting interest in companies set up by them, with conspiracy to defraud for purchasing and reselling bottled red wine sourced from a French supplier to the chain store for profit by inflating the prices by $12 million. Following the guilty plea of a then general manager implicated, a then director was today (February 26) convicted of the offence after trial at the District Court.Au Tsz-kei, 70, then merchandising and buying director of Sky Connection Limited (Sky Connection), was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. In convicting Au, Judge Mr Clement Lee Hing-nin reprimanded the defendant for committing the serious offence out of greed.Co-defendant Lau Shu-yin, 78, then general manager of Sky Connection, earlier pleaded guilty to the offence.The judge adjourned the case to March 13 for mitigation and sentence. The two defendants were granted bail. Hearing on the application for a confiscation order filed by the prosecution was adjourned to a date to be fixed.The present case arose from a corruption complaint received by the ICAC in mid-2019. At the material time, Sky Connection sold duty-free goods under the business name “Free Duty”. The merchandising and buying department, headed by Au, used to source bottled red wine from a winery in France directly for sale at “Free Duty” shops.The court heard that since August 2004, the two defendants had arranged Sky Connection to place purchase orders with the French winery via Jetfair Development Limited (Jetfair) and Master Good Trading Limited (Master Good). Between August 2004 and May 2011, Sky Connection had placed 56 purchase orders incurring payments totalling over $26 million through Jetfair and Master Good. ICAC enquiries revealed that Jetfair and Master Good had actually sourced the 56 batches of bottled red wine from the French winery at over $14 million and resold them to Sky Connection at inflated prices, causing Sky Connection to make extra payments of over $12 million.The ICAC investigation also revealed that Master Good and Jetfair were in fact funded by individuals including Au and Lau. Lau and his daughter were respectively the sole shareholder-cum-director of Master Good and Jetfair. Sky Connection required its staff to declare any conflict of interest and prohibited them from engaging in any business which might have a conflict with the company. But Au and Lau had never disclosed to Sky Connection their associations with Master Good and Jetfair.In addition, Au and Lau each shared part of the generated profits in the scam under an agreement. Lau had earlier admitted that he had received $2 million in total.Sky Connection rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Alex Ng, assisted by ICAC officer May Lam. 24
Feb 2025Then-construction consultant of fast-food restaurant chain charged by ICAC with bribery for accepting watch worth of $80,000 from contractor coupleA then construction consultant of a fast-food restaurant chain was charged by the ICAC last Friday (February 21) for allegedly accepting a watch worth over $80,000 from contractor couple for showing favour to their renovation company. The trio were respectively charged with offering and accepting a bribe.Ling Mun-tong, 45, then construction consultant of MHK Restaurants Limited (MHK), faces one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).Two co-defendants of the case, Chow Chi-kuen, 48, engineering manager of Wardson Deco-Construction Limited (Wardson), and his wife Chan Chin-yu, 30, Director-cum-shareholder of Wardson, jointly face one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(b) of the POBO.The trio were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 25) for plea.MHK operated over 200 fast food restaurants in Hong Kong under the brand name of McDonald’s. Its business development department was responsible for renovation projects of the restaurants. At the material time, Ling was a construction consultant of the department. He was responsible for conducting tender exercise, including inviting approved contractors to submit tenders, submitting tender analysis and making recommendations, as well as overseeing progress of the projects. Wardson was one of the approved contractors of MHK.It is alleged that on December 2, 2023, Ling had accepted a watch at the value of over $80,000 from the Chows as a reward for showing favour to Wardson in relation to the affairs of MHK. Meanwhile, the Chows had allegedly offered the watch to Ling for him to show favour.Between September 2021 and December 2023, Wardson was awarded 34 renovation projects and minor works of MHK and 14 variation orders in the total cover of over $18 million.MHK had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.Ling was also implicated in a bank mortgage loan fraud case. He was charged with one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. The case was also scheduled for plea at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow.