Duo sentenced for bribery and fraud over URA redevelopment compensation
2005-12-21
A director of a company and a property agent, charged by the ICAC, were today (Wednesday) sentenced at District Court for bribery and fraud involving a scam to deceive cash compensation from the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in relation to three redevelopment projects.
Yip Wa-ming, 40, a director of Kind Year Limited, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, while Chan Lai-ying, 33, a property agent, was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service.
Deputy Judge Robert McNair said a custodial sentence must be imposed on Yip to serve as deterrence.
Yip earlier admitted one count of offering an advantage to a public servant and one of conspiracy to defraud, while Chan pleaded guilty to seven counts of conspiracy to defraud.
The court heard that Yip was acquainted with an Assistant Manager of URA.
In mid 2002, Yip learnt from the Assistant Manager of URA that properties in Larch Street/Bedford Road, Tai Kok Tsui, would soon be resumed for redevelopment.
YIP and Chan jointly purchased a flat for $980,000 in Larch Street and received a total compensation of $1,558,500 from the URA.
After receiving the cash compensation, Yip gave the Assistant Manager of URA $100,000 as a reward for providing classified URA information in relation to the redevelopment project.
Yip also engaged a friend to rent a flat in Bedford Road so as to obtain URA resumption compensation.
In order to obtain a higher rate of compensation, Yip asked his friend to falsely represent to URA during an occupancy survey that he did not own other properties.
The application of compensation for $494,000 was processed by the URA, but was halted as a result of the ICAC investigation.
The court also heard that by similar means, Chan had conspired with Yip and other persons to deceive URA of cash compensation totalling $1,675,000 in relation to the redevelopment project at Larch Street/Bedford Road, as well as two other projects at Lee Tung Street, Wanchai; and Reclamation Street, Mong Kok.
However, these false claims were unsuccessful and the URA only released to Chan's associates their entitled compensation totalling $77,600.
The Assistant Manager of URA was earlier charged for his role in the scam. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of accepting an advantage from YIP and four counts of conspiracy to defraud, and is currently serving a 32 months' jail term.
Also arising from the same investigation, another 19 persons have earlier been charged with fraud and related offences in connection with their applications to defraud URA of compensation. Fourteen of them either pleaded guilty or convicted after trials. Two were sentenced to immediate custodial terms of six and four months respectively, while the other 12 received suspended sentences or community service orders.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Anthony Cheang, assisted by ICAC officer Bryan Chong.
Yip Wa-ming, 40, a director of Kind Year Limited, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, while Chan Lai-ying, 33, a property agent, was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service.
Deputy Judge Robert McNair said a custodial sentence must be imposed on Yip to serve as deterrence.
Yip earlier admitted one count of offering an advantage to a public servant and one of conspiracy to defraud, while Chan pleaded guilty to seven counts of conspiracy to defraud.
The court heard that Yip was acquainted with an Assistant Manager of URA.
In mid 2002, Yip learnt from the Assistant Manager of URA that properties in Larch Street/Bedford Road, Tai Kok Tsui, would soon be resumed for redevelopment.
YIP and Chan jointly purchased a flat for $980,000 in Larch Street and received a total compensation of $1,558,500 from the URA.
After receiving the cash compensation, Yip gave the Assistant Manager of URA $100,000 as a reward for providing classified URA information in relation to the redevelopment project.
Yip also engaged a friend to rent a flat in Bedford Road so as to obtain URA resumption compensation.
In order to obtain a higher rate of compensation, Yip asked his friend to falsely represent to URA during an occupancy survey that he did not own other properties.
The application of compensation for $494,000 was processed by the URA, but was halted as a result of the ICAC investigation.
The court also heard that by similar means, Chan had conspired with Yip and other persons to deceive URA of cash compensation totalling $1,675,000 in relation to the redevelopment project at Larch Street/Bedford Road, as well as two other projects at Lee Tung Street, Wanchai; and Reclamation Street, Mong Kok.
However, these false claims were unsuccessful and the URA only released to Chan's associates their entitled compensation totalling $77,600.
The Assistant Manager of URA was earlier charged for his role in the scam. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of accepting an advantage from YIP and four counts of conspiracy to defraud, and is currently serving a 32 months' jail term.
Also arising from the same investigation, another 19 persons have earlier been charged with fraud and related offences in connection with their applications to defraud URA of compensation. Fourteen of them either pleaded guilty or convicted after trials. Two were sentenced to immediate custodial terms of six and four months respectively, while the other 12 received suspended sentences or community service orders.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Anthony Cheang, assisted by ICAC officer Bryan Chong.