Ex-manager of groceries retailer charged with accepting US$770,000 over toy orders
2020-10-29
A former sourcing manager of a multinational groceries retailer has been charged by the ICAC today (October 29) with accepting illegal rebates and loans totalling over US$770,000 (over HK$6 million) and loan releases in the sum of about US$100,000 (about HK$780,000) from a supplier for placing toy orders worth totalling over US$26 million (over HK$205 million).
Pang Chun-kin, 39, former sourcing manager of Tesco International Sourcing Limited (Tesco Sourcing), faces five charges – three of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, all contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, and two of agent accepting an advantage, both contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendant will appear in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (November 3) for the case to be transferred to the District Court for plea.
The defendant joined Tesco Sourcing in 2006 and was promoted to sourcing manager in 2015. He was responsible for placing orders of toys and miscellaneous items with suppliers for Tesco Sourcing’s parent company.
One of the charges alleges that between March 23, 2011 and October 21, 2014, the defendant conspired together with a senior buying manager of an associated company of Tesco Sourcing and the operator of a supplier for the defendant and the senior buying manager to accept, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, illegal rebates of about US$ 500,000 (about HK$3.9 million) from the operator as an inducement to or reward for placing toy orders with the supplier.
Two other charges allege that on March 25, 2015 and June 1, 2017, the defendant accepted on each occasion a loan of US$100,000 (about HK$780,000) from the aforesaid operator, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, for the same purpose.
Another charge alleges that between March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2016, the defendant conspired together with three persons, namely the aforesaid senior buying manager and operator, and a buying manager of the above-mentioned associated company, to accept, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, illegal rebates of about US$55,000 (about HK$429,000) and partial loan release of about US$55,000 (about HK$429,000) from the operator for the same purpose.
The remaining charge alleges that between February 9, 2017 and January 27, 2018, the defendant conspired together with the aforesaid buying manager and operator to accept, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, illegal rebates of about US$16,000 (over HK$124,000) and partial loan release of over US$45,000 (over HK$351,000) from the operator for the same purpose.
It is alleged that as a result of the corrupt dealings, Tesco Sourcing had placed toy orders worth totalling over US$26 million (over HK$205 million) with the abovementioned supplier between March 2011 and January 2018.
Tesco Sourcing earlier referred a corruption complaint to the ICAC. Tesco Sourcing, its parent company and associated company concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance next Tuesday.
Pang Chun-kin, 39, former sourcing manager of Tesco International Sourcing Limited (Tesco Sourcing), faces five charges – three of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, all contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, and two of agent accepting an advantage, both contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the POBO.
The defendant will appear in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (November 3) for the case to be transferred to the District Court for plea.
The defendant joined Tesco Sourcing in 2006 and was promoted to sourcing manager in 2015. He was responsible for placing orders of toys and miscellaneous items with suppliers for Tesco Sourcing’s parent company.
One of the charges alleges that between March 23, 2011 and October 21, 2014, the defendant conspired together with a senior buying manager of an associated company of Tesco Sourcing and the operator of a supplier for the defendant and the senior buying manager to accept, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, illegal rebates of about US$ 500,000 (about HK$3.9 million) from the operator as an inducement to or reward for placing toy orders with the supplier.
Two other charges allege that on March 25, 2015 and June 1, 2017, the defendant accepted on each occasion a loan of US$100,000 (about HK$780,000) from the aforesaid operator, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, for the same purpose.
Another charge alleges that between March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2016, the defendant conspired together with three persons, namely the aforesaid senior buying manager and operator, and a buying manager of the above-mentioned associated company, to accept, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, illegal rebates of about US$55,000 (about HK$429,000) and partial loan release of about US$55,000 (about HK$429,000) from the operator for the same purpose.
The remaining charge alleges that between February 9, 2017 and January 27, 2018, the defendant conspired together with the aforesaid buying manager and operator to accept, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, illegal rebates of about US$16,000 (over HK$124,000) and partial loan release of over US$45,000 (over HK$351,000) from the operator for the same purpose.
It is alleged that as a result of the corrupt dealings, Tesco Sourcing had placed toy orders worth totalling over US$26 million (over HK$205 million) with the abovementioned supplier between March 2011 and January 2018.
Tesco Sourcing earlier referred a corruption complaint to the ICAC. Tesco Sourcing, its parent company and associated company concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance next Tuesday.