Duo charged with $94,000 bribery for subcontracting air-conditioning projects
2020-11-4
A former supervisor of an air-conditioning contractor and the proprietor of a subcontractor have been charged by the ICAC today (November 4) with bribery involving illegal rebates totalling over $94,000 for subcontracting air conditioner cleaning and installation projects.
Yip Pak-leung, 45, former supervisor of Homcare Specialty Limited (Homcare), faces five counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Cheng Fai-wong, 49, sole proprietor of Tai Day Company (Tai Day), faces two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants will appear in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (November 6) for plea.
At the material time, Yip was a supervisor of Homcare, an air-conditioning engineering company. He was responsible for arranging technicians to provide air conditioner cleaning and installation services. In the event of insufficient manpower, Homcare would contract out some projects to subcontractors, including Tai Day owned by Cheng.
Two of the charges allege that between April 1 and December 31, 2016, Yip, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted illegal rebates totalling at least about $7,600 from a subcontractor of Homcare as an inducement to or reward for awarding air-conditioning projects of a department store and a temple to the subcontractor.
Two other charges allege that on or about January 23, 2017 and February 12, 2018, Yip, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted on each occasion an illegal rebate of $20,000, totalling $40,000, from Cheng as an inducement to or reward for awarding a number of air-conditioning projects to Tai Day.
Another two charges allege that Cheng offered the aforesaid illegal rebates of $40,000 to Yip for the same purpose.
The remaining charge alleges that on or about January 19, 2019, Yip, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted about $47,000 from another subcontractor of Homcare as an inducement to or reward for awarding a number of air-conditioning projects to the subcontractor.
Homcare has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Friday.
Yip Pak-leung, 45, former supervisor of Homcare Specialty Limited (Homcare), faces five counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Cheng Fai-wong, 49, sole proprietor of Tai Day Company (Tai Day), faces two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the POBO.
The defendants will appear in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Friday (November 6) for plea.
At the material time, Yip was a supervisor of Homcare, an air-conditioning engineering company. He was responsible for arranging technicians to provide air conditioner cleaning and installation services. In the event of insufficient manpower, Homcare would contract out some projects to subcontractors, including Tai Day owned by Cheng.
Two of the charges allege that between April 1 and December 31, 2016, Yip, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted illegal rebates totalling at least about $7,600 from a subcontractor of Homcare as an inducement to or reward for awarding air-conditioning projects of a department store and a temple to the subcontractor.
Two other charges allege that on or about January 23, 2017 and February 12, 2018, Yip, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted on each occasion an illegal rebate of $20,000, totalling $40,000, from Cheng as an inducement to or reward for awarding a number of air-conditioning projects to Tai Day.
Another two charges allege that Cheng offered the aforesaid illegal rebates of $40,000 to Yip for the same purpose.
The remaining charge alleges that on or about January 19, 2019, Yip, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted about $47,000 from another subcontractor of Homcare as an inducement to or reward for awarding a number of air-conditioning projects to the subcontractor.
Homcare has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Friday.