Ex-employee of charity admits bribery over procurement of AV equipment
2021-3-23
A former employee of a charitable organisation, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (March 23) that he had solicited a bribe of over $42,000 from a supplier in relation to the procurement of audio and visual (AV) equipment.
Chan Siu-pang, 53, former information technology officer of the Asian Academy of Family Therapy Limited (AAFT), pleaded guilty to one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to April 13 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The AAFT is a charitable and non-profitable organisation which promotes family therapy for enhancing the quality of family health.
The court heard that around April 2019, the AAFT planned to relocate its office. The defendant, who was the information technology officer of the AAFT, was instructed to obtain quotations from suppliers for the procurement of AV equipment to be installed at its new office.
In early October 2019, the defendant contacted a sales manager of a supplier to obtain a preliminary quotation for the aforesaid procurement. The sales manager agreed to provide the defendant with a quotation for the project.
A few days later, the defendant phoned the sales manager and asked him to make some “buffer” in the price to be paid to him.
After the sales manager furnished an initial quotation, the defendant asked the sales manager to pay him a referral/consultancy fee in the sum of five per cent of the quoted price or about $850,000 on October 18, 2019.
Five days later, the defendant further requested the sales manager to pay him $42,500, which represented five per cent of the price quoted by the supplier.
The court heard that the sales manager did not accede to the defendant’s solicitation and reported the matter to his supervisor.
The AAFT and the supplier concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Hugh Tan.
Chan Siu-pang, 53, former information technology officer of the Asian Academy of Family Therapy Limited (AAFT), pleaded guilty to one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen adjourned the case to April 13 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The AAFT is a charitable and non-profitable organisation which promotes family therapy for enhancing the quality of family health.
The court heard that around April 2019, the AAFT planned to relocate its office. The defendant, who was the information technology officer of the AAFT, was instructed to obtain quotations from suppliers for the procurement of AV equipment to be installed at its new office.
In early October 2019, the defendant contacted a sales manager of a supplier to obtain a preliminary quotation for the aforesaid procurement. The sales manager agreed to provide the defendant with a quotation for the project.
A few days later, the defendant phoned the sales manager and asked him to make some “buffer” in the price to be paid to him.
After the sales manager furnished an initial quotation, the defendant asked the sales manager to pay him a referral/consultancy fee in the sum of five per cent of the quoted price or about $850,000 on October 18, 2019.
Five days later, the defendant further requested the sales manager to pay him $42,500, which represented five per cent of the price quoted by the supplier.
The court heard that the sales manager did not accede to the defendant’s solicitation and reported the matter to his supervisor.
The AAFT and the supplier concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Hugh Tan.