Duo jailed for bribery over supply of screws
2010-12-20
A director of a screw factory and a director of an electric motor company, charged by the ICAC, were today (Monday) sent to jail at the District Court for bribery in relation to the supply of screws for the manufacturing of garage shutter motors.
Judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong meted out a 15-month jail term to Lai Chi-wai, 49, director of Seiko Screw Manufactory Limited (Seiko Screw); while Tam Yuet-wah, 51, director of Countermast Limited (Countermast), was jailed for 18 months.
Lai was today found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Tam was convicted of one count of agent accepti ng an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Seiko Screw was a local screw manufacturer jointly owned by Lai and his three brothers. Since 2001, Seiko Screws had been a supplier of Countermast, a subsidiary of an Australian company in producing gara ge shutter motors.
Seiko Screw adopted a trade practice to provide its regular customers with a 2% to 3% discount or rebate, which was clearly stated on vouchers or invoices issued to customers.
In January 2009, it was discovered that Seiko Screw had been offering to Countermast cash rebates equivalent to 10% of the sales amount of goods supplied by Seiko Screw to Countermast. However, such rebates were never recorded on the vouchers or invoices issued to Countermast.
Between January 2001 and September 16, 2009, Lai conspired together with Tam for Tam to accept rebates from Seiko Screw. In return, Tam placed purchase orders with Seiko Screw for Countermast. The total rebates involved amounted to about $400,000.
The court heard that Lai met Tam at a restaurant in Kwun Tong on September 16, 2009, during which Lai gave Tam an envelope containing $18,080 in cash being the 10% rebate of the goods payments received from Countermast between June and August 2009.
When Tam left the restaurant, he was arrested by ICAC officers. The envelope containing the sum of $18,080 was found in his possession. Tam admitted that the cash was given to him by Lai at the meeting.
Countermast prohibited its employees from soliciting or accepting any rebate in relation to its business, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alice Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Alex Yam.
Judge Douglas Yau Tak-hong meted out a 15-month jail term to Lai Chi-wai, 49, director of Seiko Screw Manufactory Limited (Seiko Screw); while Tam Yuet-wah, 51, director of Countermast Limited (Countermast), was jailed for 18 months.
Lai was today found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Tam was convicted of one count of agent accepti ng an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Seiko Screw was a local screw manufacturer jointly owned by Lai and his three brothers. Since 2001, Seiko Screws had been a supplier of Countermast, a subsidiary of an Australian company in producing gara ge shutter motors.
Seiko Screw adopted a trade practice to provide its regular customers with a 2% to 3% discount or rebate, which was clearly stated on vouchers or invoices issued to customers.
In January 2009, it was discovered that Seiko Screw had been offering to Countermast cash rebates equivalent to 10% of the sales amount of goods supplied by Seiko Screw to Countermast. However, such rebates were never recorded on the vouchers or invoices issued to Countermast.
Between January 2001 and September 16, 2009, Lai conspired together with Tam for Tam to accept rebates from Seiko Screw. In return, Tam placed purchase orders with Seiko Screw for Countermast. The total rebates involved amounted to about $400,000.
The court heard that Lai met Tam at a restaurant in Kwun Tong on September 16, 2009, during which Lai gave Tam an envelope containing $18,080 in cash being the 10% rebate of the goods payments received from Countermast between June and August 2009.
When Tam left the restaurant, he was arrested by ICAC officers. The envelope containing the sum of $18,080 was found in his possession. Tam admitted that the cash was given to him by Lai at the meeting.
Countermast prohibited its employees from soliciting or accepting any rebate in relation to its business, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Alice Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Alex Yam.