Housing subcontractor team leader gets seven months in jail over $50,000 bribes
2026-8-5
A team leader of a bar-bending subcontractor of a transitional housing project in Yuen Long, charged by the ICAC, was today (August 5) sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts after admitting that he had accepted bribes totalling over $50,000 from a bar-bender in a span of five months for continuing the latter’s employment.
Chan Kong-on, 33, then bar-bending team leader of Long Engineering Limited (Long Engineering), pleaded guilty to seven counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming remarked that the defendant had exploited the worker over an extended period by taking rebates equivalent to 20 per cent of the latter’s daily wage. The magistrate noted that the serious offences committed by the defendant harmed the worker and undermined social fairness, warranting an immediate custodial sentence of seven months. The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay over $50,000 - the sum involved in the present case - as restitution.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the Commission has zero tolerance for corruption, adding that the sentence reflected the gravity of the offences. If construction workers are asked to pay bribes in exchange for employment, they should reject the demand and report it to the ICAC immediately. ICAC’s report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.
The court heard that at the material time, Long Engineering was a bar-bending subcontractor of a transitional housing project at Pat Heung in Yuen Long. The defendant was a team leader at the construction site responsible for recruiting bar-benders, supervising them and distributing pay-cheques to them.
In the five months between October 2023 and February 2024, the defendant accepted seven bribes totalling over $50,000 from a bar-bender under his supervision for continuing the latter’s employment with Long Engineering.
Long Engineering does not allow its employees to accept any advantages in relation to its business or affairs. The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant solicited a bribe of $500 per day from the bar-bender soon after the latter was employed at a daily wage of $2,450. The bar-bender acceded to the defendant’s request as he believed that he would lose his job if he did not do so.
Long Engineering had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Alex Lau.
Chan Kong-on, 33, then bar-bending team leader of Long Engineering Limited (Long Engineering), pleaded guilty to seven counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming remarked that the defendant had exploited the worker over an extended period by taking rebates equivalent to 20 per cent of the latter’s daily wage. The magistrate noted that the serious offences committed by the defendant harmed the worker and undermined social fairness, warranting an immediate custodial sentence of seven months. The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay over $50,000 - the sum involved in the present case - as restitution.
An ICAC spokesperson noted that the Commission has zero tolerance for corruption, adding that the sentence reflected the gravity of the offences. If construction workers are asked to pay bribes in exchange for employment, they should reject the demand and report it to the ICAC immediately. ICAC’s report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.
The court heard that at the material time, Long Engineering was a bar-bending subcontractor of a transitional housing project at Pat Heung in Yuen Long. The defendant was a team leader at the construction site responsible for recruiting bar-benders, supervising them and distributing pay-cheques to them.
In the five months between October 2023 and February 2024, the defendant accepted seven bribes totalling over $50,000 from a bar-bender under his supervision for continuing the latter’s employment with Long Engineering.
Long Engineering does not allow its employees to accept any advantages in relation to its business or affairs. The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant solicited a bribe of $500 per day from the bar-bender soon after the latter was employed at a daily wage of $2,450. The bar-bender acceded to the defendant’s request as he believed that he would lose his job if he did not do so.
Long Engineering had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Alex Lau.