Shatin District Councillor guilty of coach service bribery
2005-12-29
A member of the Shatin District Council, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) convicted at District Court of soliciting and accepting bribes in relation to the renewal of coach service at a residential estate in Ma On Shan.
Wong Kwok-hung, 48, who is also the chairman of the Incorporated Owners (IO) of Kam Ying Court Phase II, Ma On Shan, was found guilty of two bribery offences –'96 one of soliciting an advantage and one of accepting an advantage as an agent.
He was acquitted of three charges of false accounting, which related to applications for subsidies from the Shatin District Council, and applications for reimbursement from the IO and the Residents' Association of Kam Ying Court Phase II in respect of loc al trips organised by Wong in his capacity as the chairman of the two organisations.
Wong and his wife, Liu Suet-mui, 45, were found not guilty of nine joint charges of false accounting of a similar nature.
Deputy Judge Andrew Ma adjourned sentencing to January 17, 2006, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that since 2003, Nam Hoi Bus Services Company Limited (Nam Hoi) has been operating a coach service between Kam Ying Court, Ma On Shan and Cheung Yue Street, Lai Chi Kwok for residents of Kam Ying Court.
In order to continue its service, it was necessary for Nam Hoi to renew the passenger service licence certificate. The renewal of the certificate required the recommendation of Wong as the IO chairman.
The court heard that on about February 24 last year, Wong solicited $100,000 from a director of Nam Hoi as a reward for assisting Nam Hoi in renewing the certificate.
On September 23 last year, Wong was arrested by the ICAC after having accepted $30,000 from the director of Nam Hoi as partial payment.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Patrick Leung.
Wong Kwok-hung, 48, who is also the chairman of the Incorporated Owners (IO) of Kam Ying Court Phase II, Ma On Shan, was found guilty of two bribery offences –'96 one of soliciting an advantage and one of accepting an advantage as an agent.
He was acquitted of three charges of false accounting, which related to applications for subsidies from the Shatin District Council, and applications for reimbursement from the IO and the Residents' Association of Kam Ying Court Phase II in respect of loc al trips organised by Wong in his capacity as the chairman of the two organisations.
Wong and his wife, Liu Suet-mui, 45, were found not guilty of nine joint charges of false accounting of a similar nature.
Deputy Judge Andrew Ma adjourned sentencing to January 17, 2006, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that since 2003, Nam Hoi Bus Services Company Limited (Nam Hoi) has been operating a coach service between Kam Ying Court, Ma On Shan and Cheung Yue Street, Lai Chi Kwok for residents of Kam Ying Court.
In order to continue its service, it was necessary for Nam Hoi to renew the passenger service licence certificate. The renewal of the certificate required the recommendation of Wong as the IO chairman.
The court heard that on about February 24 last year, Wong solicited $100,000 from a director of Nam Hoi as a reward for assisting Nam Hoi in renewing the certificate.
On September 23 last year, Wong was arrested by the ICAC after having accepted $30,000 from the director of Nam Hoi as partial payment.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Patrick Leung.