Ex-IO secretary sentenced for bribery over maintenance orders
2013-12-13
A former secretary of the incorporated owners (IO) of a public housing estate, charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) sentenced at the Eastern Magistracy for soliciting a bribe of $3,000 from a contractor in relation to the award of maintenance orders of the estate.
Kei Sik-hung, 66, former secretary of the IO of Fung Wah Estate (FWE), was ordered by Magistrate So Wai-tak to perform 100 hours of community service and pay a restitution of $1,500 to the IO of FWE.
In sentencing, the magistrate said bribery was a serious offence, regardless of the amount of bribe money involved.
The magistrate added that a community service order was imposed on the defendant after taking into account various factors, including his assistance rendered to the prosecution and the chance of committing the offence again being slim as he had stepped do wn from the post of IO secretary.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a secretary of the IO of FWE, a public housing estate in Chai Wan under the Tenants Purchase Scheme of the Housing Department (HD).
Among the maintenance works contractors of FWE was Kong’s Water-pipe Company (Kong’s).
In early January 2012, the IO chairman of FWE told the defendant several times that Kong’s had earned lots of money from quite a number of maintenance orders awarded to it by FWE over the years, but he himself and members of the IO did not receive any salary, the court heard.
Believing the IO chairman was asking him to solicit advantages from Kong’s, the defendant asked for a loan of $3,000 from the proprietor of Kong’s over the phone. The proprietor acceded to the request.
After receiving the money in late January 2012, the defendant gave $1,500 to the IO chairman and kept the rest, the court was told.
The HD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Andy Yu.
Kei Sik-hung, 66, former secretary of the IO of Fung Wah Estate (FWE), was ordered by Magistrate So Wai-tak to perform 100 hours of community service and pay a restitution of $1,500 to the IO of FWE.
In sentencing, the magistrate said bribery was a serious offence, regardless of the amount of bribe money involved.
The magistrate added that a community service order was imposed on the defendant after taking into account various factors, including his assistance rendered to the prosecution and the chance of committing the offence again being slim as he had stepped do wn from the post of IO secretary.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a secretary of the IO of FWE, a public housing estate in Chai Wan under the Tenants Purchase Scheme of the Housing Department (HD).
Among the maintenance works contractors of FWE was Kong’s Water-pipe Company (Kong’s).
In early January 2012, the IO chairman of FWE told the defendant several times that Kong’s had earned lots of money from quite a number of maintenance orders awarded to it by FWE over the years, but he himself and members of the IO did not receive any salary, the court heard.
Believing the IO chairman was asking him to solicit advantages from Kong’s, the defendant asked for a loan of $3,000 from the proprietor of Kong’s over the phone. The proprietor acceded to the request.
After receiving the money in late January 2012, the defendant gave $1,500 to the IO chairman and kept the rest, the court was told.
The HD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Andy Yu.