Owner of logistics company jailed for bribery and tax evasion
2010-12-7
An owner of a logistics company, charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment at the District Court for offering over $200,000 in bribes to secure business from two logistics companies, and making false statements to auditors for tax evasion.
Wu Chi-man, 45, a director-cum-shareholder of Fortune Fame Logistics Limited (Fortune Fame), yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Two similar offences against the defendant were ordered to be placed on court file.
The defendant also admitted three counts of an officer of a company knowingly making false statements to the auditors, contrary to Section 134 of the Companies Ordinance.
In sentencing, Judge Anthea Pang Po-kam said the court had to mete out a custodial sentence to the defendant in view of the serious bribery offences.
The court heard that since May 2003, Fortune Fame had conducted business with Oriental Air Transport Service Limited (Oriental).
Between August 2003 and December 2006, the defendant offered to Keung Sing-chi, then Assistant General Manager of Oriental, a monthly bribe of $5,000, amounting to about $195,000 in total, as a reward for having shown favour to Fortune Fame in relation to Oriental’s business.
In January 2009, the defendant offered a bribe of about $6,500 to Chan Tak-chun, then an operation manager of Right Time Enterprise Limited (RTE).
In return, Chan recommended UFM Container Line, which was operated by RTE, to rent a warehouse and employ other logistics services from Fortune Fame.
The court also heard that between April 2006 and May 2008, the defendant had knowingly made false statements, namely a total of 128 bogus receipts were purportedly issued by various companies, to three auditors in order to reduce the taxable profits of Fo rtune Fame.
As a result, the false receipts submitted by the defendant had helped Fortune Fame to evade over $150,000 in profits tax, the court was told.
Keung, 59, and Chan, 39, were also charged by the ICAC for their roles in the above cases.
Keung earlier pleaded guilty at Kowloon City Magistracy to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1) of the POBO. He was jailed for six months, suspended for two years.
Appearing in Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier, Chan admitted one count of similar offence. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Margaret Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Alice Choi.
Wu Chi-man, 45, a director-cum-shareholder of Fortune Fame Logistics Limited (Fortune Fame), yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Two similar offences against the defendant were ordered to be placed on court file.
The defendant also admitted three counts of an officer of a company knowingly making false statements to the auditors, contrary to Section 134 of the Companies Ordinance.
In sentencing, Judge Anthea Pang Po-kam said the court had to mete out a custodial sentence to the defendant in view of the serious bribery offences.
The court heard that since May 2003, Fortune Fame had conducted business with Oriental Air Transport Service Limited (Oriental).
Between August 2003 and December 2006, the defendant offered to Keung Sing-chi, then Assistant General Manager of Oriental, a monthly bribe of $5,000, amounting to about $195,000 in total, as a reward for having shown favour to Fortune Fame in relation to Oriental’s business.
In January 2009, the defendant offered a bribe of about $6,500 to Chan Tak-chun, then an operation manager of Right Time Enterprise Limited (RTE).
In return, Chan recommended UFM Container Line, which was operated by RTE, to rent a warehouse and employ other logistics services from Fortune Fame.
The court also heard that between April 2006 and May 2008, the defendant had knowingly made false statements, namely a total of 128 bogus receipts were purportedly issued by various companies, to three auditors in order to reduce the taxable profits of Fo rtune Fame.
As a result, the false receipts submitted by the defendant had helped Fortune Fame to evade over $150,000 in profits tax, the court was told.
Keung, 59, and Chan, 39, were also charged by the ICAC for their roles in the above cases.
Keung earlier pleaded guilty at Kowloon City Magistracy to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1) of the POBO. He was jailed for six months, suspended for two years.
Appearing in Kwun Tong Magistracy earlier, Chan admitted one count of similar offence. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Margaret Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Alice Choi.