Duo guilty of soliciting m bribe and laundering crime proceeds
2015-6-30
A former chief executive officer of a hotel and a businessman, charged by the ICAC, were today (Tuesday) convicted at the District Court of conspiring to solicit a bribe of about million in relation to the operation of a restaurant at the hotel, and laundering part of the crime proceeds.
William Yu Lik-wai, 50, former chief executive officer of Gloucester Hotel (GH), and Albert Cheung, 50, businessman, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to solicit an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Yu and Cheung were also convicted of one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
Judge Pang Chung-ping adjourned the case to July 2 this year for mitigation by the defence counsel. Yu and Cheung were remanded in custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that at the material time, a building at Gloucester Road in Wan Chai was refurbished with a view to leasing for operating hotel business and providing around 50 serviced apartments for rental.
In April 2012, Yu invited his friend to invest in renting the building for operating a hotel. After the invitation was accepted, Yu, on his friend’s behalf, signed a lease agreement with the owner of the building for 20 years.
According to the lease agreement, the building should only be operated as a hotel or a guest house, including a restaurant inside the building, and should not be partly or wholly sub-let to a third party.
After renaming the building as GH, Yu’s friend – the sole beneficial owner of the hotel – employed Yu as its chief executive officer.
The court heard that in November 2012, Yu entrusted Cheung, who had engaged in food and beverage business on the Mainland for years, to look for a caterer to operate the proposed restaurant at GH.
Afterwards, Yu and Cheung conspired together for Yu to solicit a sum of $980,000 from the potential caterer for engaging the latter to operate and manage the proposed restaurant. They received $250,000 in cash as part of the bribe from the potential caterer on April 16, 2013.
GH had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Yuen, assisted by ICAC officer Rani Chau.
William Yu Lik-wai, 50, former chief executive officer of Gloucester Hotel (GH), and Albert Cheung, 50, businessman, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to solicit an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Yu and Cheung were also convicted of one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
Judge Pang Chung-ping adjourned the case to July 2 this year for mitigation by the defence counsel. Yu and Cheung were remanded in custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that at the material time, a building at Gloucester Road in Wan Chai was refurbished with a view to leasing for operating hotel business and providing around 50 serviced apartments for rental.
In April 2012, Yu invited his friend to invest in renting the building for operating a hotel. After the invitation was accepted, Yu, on his friend’s behalf, signed a lease agreement with the owner of the building for 20 years.
According to the lease agreement, the building should only be operated as a hotel or a guest house, including a restaurant inside the building, and should not be partly or wholly sub-let to a third party.
After renaming the building as GH, Yu’s friend – the sole beneficial owner of the hotel – employed Yu as its chief executive officer.
The court heard that in November 2012, Yu entrusted Cheung, who had engaged in food and beverage business on the Mainland for years, to look for a caterer to operate the proposed restaurant at GH.
Afterwards, Yu and Cheung conspired together for Yu to solicit a sum of $980,000 from the potential caterer for engaging the latter to operate and manage the proposed restaurant. They received $250,000 in cash as part of the bribe from the potential caterer on April 16, 2013.
GH had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Yuen, assisted by ICAC officer Rani Chau.