ICAC arrests 24 over alleged corruption in ASD projects
2001-12-16
The ICAC has arrested 24 people, including 11 officers of the Architectural Services Department (ASD) and an engineer of the Building Department, in an operation commencing last Friday (December 14), for alleged corruption in relation to government mainte nance projects.
The ASD staff arrested were one Property Services Manager, two Senior Property Services Officers (SPSOs), two Property Services Officers (PSO), three Assistant Property Services Officers, one Structural Engineer, one Maintenance Surveyor and one Works Sup ervisor.
The remaining arrestees were one BD’s Structural Engineer and 12 subcontractors of ASD Term Contractors.
The PSM, one SPSO, one PSO, the Maintenance Surveyor and one of the subcontractors were arrested on their return from Macau after having attended a nightclub in Macau. The Commission Against Corruption of Macao has provided valuable assistance to the ICA C in securing evidence against these suspects.
The investigation originated from a corruption complaint alleging an SPSO of obtaining maintenance works from ASD term contractors for companies in which the officer had a financial interest, through a company allegedly operated by his wife.
In return, the SPSO conducted only cursory supervision on the works carried out by these subcontractors for ASD.
ICAC enquiries revealed that one of the SPSO and BD’s Structural Engineer arrested had been operating a number of companies to receive works orders from subcontractors of ASD term contractors.
It was further revealed that apart from awarding maintenance works to these companies, the subcontractors also allegedly provided nightclub entertainment, free trips to the Mainland and Macau, and prostitution service to the SPSO and his colleagues who as sisted in the scheme.
Enquiries also revealed that companies associated with the SPSO had used inferior materials in carrying out one of the maintenance projects and requested a listed supplier to issue a false certificate to guarantee the quality of the materials.
It was also alleged that the ASD’s Structural Engineer arrested had accepted cash, free trips to Singapore, nightclub entertainment, and the transfer of the ownership of a private car.
It was believed that the alleged advantages were for the ASD engineer to turn a blind eye to substandard works at an ASD project in a school.
The ICAC received full assistance from ASD and BD throughout the operation.
All arrestees have been released on bail. Enquiries are continuing.
The ASD staff arrested were one Property Services Manager, two Senior Property Services Officers (SPSOs), two Property Services Officers (PSO), three Assistant Property Services Officers, one Structural Engineer, one Maintenance Surveyor and one Works Sup ervisor.
The remaining arrestees were one BD’s Structural Engineer and 12 subcontractors of ASD Term Contractors.
The PSM, one SPSO, one PSO, the Maintenance Surveyor and one of the subcontractors were arrested on their return from Macau after having attended a nightclub in Macau. The Commission Against Corruption of Macao has provided valuable assistance to the ICA C in securing evidence against these suspects.
The investigation originated from a corruption complaint alleging an SPSO of obtaining maintenance works from ASD term contractors for companies in which the officer had a financial interest, through a company allegedly operated by his wife.
In return, the SPSO conducted only cursory supervision on the works carried out by these subcontractors for ASD.
ICAC enquiries revealed that one of the SPSO and BD’s Structural Engineer arrested had been operating a number of companies to receive works orders from subcontractors of ASD term contractors.
It was further revealed that apart from awarding maintenance works to these companies, the subcontractors also allegedly provided nightclub entertainment, free trips to the Mainland and Macau, and prostitution service to the SPSO and his colleagues who as sisted in the scheme.
Enquiries also revealed that companies associated with the SPSO had used inferior materials in carrying out one of the maintenance projects and requested a listed supplier to issue a false certificate to guarantee the quality of the materials.
It was also alleged that the ASD’s Structural Engineer arrested had accepted cash, free trips to Singapore, nightclub entertainment, and the transfer of the ownership of a private car.
It was believed that the alleged advantages were for the ASD engineer to turn a blind eye to substandard works at an ASD project in a school.
The ICAC received full assistance from ASD and BD throughout the operation.
All arrestees have been released on bail. Enquiries are continuing.