Couple charged with bribery over re-housing in URA redevelopment project
2021-3-2
A couple affected by a redevelopment project of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is today (March 2) charged by the ICAC with offering a bribe of $2,000 to a URA officer in relation to their re-housing application.
Xu Jishuo, 68, cleansing worker; and his wife Sun Shaochun, 53, housewife, jointly face one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendants will appear at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (March 4) for plea.
On June 3, 2016, the URA gazetted a redevelopment project in To Kwa Wan – Hung Fook Street/Ngan Hon Street Development Scheme. The defendants were tenants living in a flat in the affected area.
Subject to their eligibility, the defendants would be arranged for re-housing or provided with ex-gratia allowances. A Senior Officer of the Acquisition & Clearance Division of the URA was responsible for liaising with them in respect of the arrangements.
The charge alleges that on June 10, 2020, the defendants, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered cash of $2,000 to the aforesaid Senior Officer of the URA on account of his handling of the re-housing application under the abovementioned redevelopment project for the defendants.
The Senior Officer of the URA reported the matter to the URA. The URA subsequently referred the matter to the ICAC and 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 Thursday.
Xu Jishuo, 68, cleansing worker; and his wife Sun Shaochun, 53, housewife, jointly face one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendants will appear at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (March 4) for plea.
On June 3, 2016, the URA gazetted a redevelopment project in To Kwa Wan – Hung Fook Street/Ngan Hon Street Development Scheme. The defendants were tenants living in a flat in the affected area.
Subject to their eligibility, the defendants would be arranged for re-housing or provided with ex-gratia allowances. A Senior Officer of the Acquisition & Clearance Division of the URA was responsible for liaising with them in respect of the arrangements.
The charge alleges that on June 10, 2020, the defendants, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered cash of $2,000 to the aforesaid Senior Officer of the URA on account of his handling of the re-housing application under the abovementioned redevelopment project for the defendants.
The Senior Officer of the URA reported the matter to the URA. The URA subsequently referred the matter to the ICAC and 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 Thursday.