A former chairman of the owners committee (OC) of a commercial and residential building, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) convicted at Kowloon City Magistracy of soliciting an advantage in relation to the establishment of a mahjong parlour in the building.

The defendant, 45, was found guilty of one count of agent soliciting an advantage under Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

Deputy Magistrate Mr Chan Ka-sing adjourned the case until January 19 next year for sentence, pending background and medical reports. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.

The court heard that in August 2008, a mahjong school company (Company A) purchased two shops on the ground floor of a commercial and residential building in Jordan with intent to establish a mahjong parlour there.

A month later, Company A submitted an application for a licence to the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA).

TELA was required to gauge the views of the residents of the building and surrounding buildings before deciding whether or not to grant the licence to the mahjong school company.

The court heard that a manager of Company A was assigned to coordinate the matter. On an occasion in December 2008, the manager met the defendant upon the latter's request. During the meeting, the defendant told the manager that he did not want to live in the building if a mahjong parlour was established there and wished to sell his residential flat for $2.6 million.

On various occasions in February this year, the manager and the defendant met again. During the meetings, the defendant reiterated that if the manager paid a deposit for purchasing his flat, he would not object to the setting up of a mahjong parlour at the building.

The defendant also said if the manager agreed to buy his flat, he would confirm with TELA that he, being the OC chairman of the building, agreed to the establishment of a mahjong parlour at the building. The defendant also undertook to persuade the residents of the building not to raise objection.

On February 13 this year, the defendant received from the manager a cheque for $260,000 as the deposit for purchasing his flat when they met in a restaurant. At the conclusion of the meeting, the defendant was arrested by ICAC officers, the court was told.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Terence Wai, assisted by ICAC officer Jennifer Tam.