Six months’ jail for bribery and fraud over food orders
2013-6-6
A former head chef of a restaurant, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the Kwun Tong Magistracy for accepting illegal rebates from a frozen meat supplier and using false sales invoices to deceive money from the restaurant.
Tsoi Hoi-man, 36, formerly employed by Vietnam Kitchen, earlier pleaded guilty before Principal Magistrate Mr Ernest Lin Kam-hung to three charges –'96 one of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and two of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was the head chef of Vietnam Kitchen. He was responsible for the daily operation of the restaurant, including placing orders with food suppliers and acknowledging food deliveries.
In September 2011, upon the recommendation of the defendant, the operator of Vietnam Kitchen agreed to appoint Wing Shing Frozen Meat Company (Wing Shing) as its frozen meat supplier.
A staff member of Wing Shing later informed the defendant of increases in prices of its frozen meat, proposing that the quantities of food supplies stated on the invoices issued to Vietnam Kitchen be overstated to maintain the low prices. The defendant a cceded to the proposal.
In October 2011, the staff member of Wing Shing informed the defendant that some bogus food items would also be included in the invoices issued to Vietnam Kitchen, and that rebates equivalent to 10% of the invoiced amounts would be given to him. The defe ndant agreed to the offer.
As a result, the defendant received illegal rebates totalling around $7,000 to $8,000 from the staff member of Wing Shing between October and November 2011.
The court heard that in December 2011, the defendant, together with an assistant chef, fabricated a sales invoice to deceive Vietnam Kitchen that two items of frozen meat in the amount of over $1,900 were purchased from Wing Shing.
After receiving the money from Vietnam Kitchen, the defendant shared it equally with the assistant chef.
Between August and November 2011, the defendant also fabricated 13 other sales invoices of another meat supplier to deceive a total of over $4,800 from Vietnam Kitchen, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Joey Ma, assisted by ICAC officer Angel Au.
Tsoi Hoi-man, 36, formerly employed by Vietnam Kitchen, earlier pleaded guilty before Principal Magistrate Mr Ernest Lin Kam-hung to three charges –'96 one of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and two of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was the head chef of Vietnam Kitchen. He was responsible for the daily operation of the restaurant, including placing orders with food suppliers and acknowledging food deliveries.
In September 2011, upon the recommendation of the defendant, the operator of Vietnam Kitchen agreed to appoint Wing Shing Frozen Meat Company (Wing Shing) as its frozen meat supplier.
A staff member of Wing Shing later informed the defendant of increases in prices of its frozen meat, proposing that the quantities of food supplies stated on the invoices issued to Vietnam Kitchen be overstated to maintain the low prices. The defendant a cceded to the proposal.
In October 2011, the staff member of Wing Shing informed the defendant that some bogus food items would also be included in the invoices issued to Vietnam Kitchen, and that rebates equivalent to 10% of the invoiced amounts would be given to him. The defe ndant agreed to the offer.
As a result, the defendant received illegal rebates totalling around $7,000 to $8,000 from the staff member of Wing Shing between October and November 2011.
The court heard that in December 2011, the defendant, together with an assistant chef, fabricated a sales invoice to deceive Vietnam Kitchen that two items of frozen meat in the amount of over $1,900 were purchased from Wing Shing.
After receiving the money from Vietnam Kitchen, the defendant shared it equally with the assistant chef.
Between August and November 2011, the defendant also fabricated 13 other sales invoices of another meat supplier to deceive a total of over $4,800 from Vietnam Kitchen, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Public Prosecutor Joey Ma, assisted by ICAC officer Angel Au.