Duo jailed for soliciting m bribe and laundering crime proceeds
2015-7-2
A former chief executive officer of a hotel and a businessman, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) sentenced to jail terms up to two and a half years at the District Court for 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), received a jail term of two and a half years in total, while businessman Albert Cheung, 50, was jailed for two years and three months.
In sentencing, Judge Pang Chung-ping said bribery was evil and struck into the heart of the commercial environment and reputation of Hong Kong. As the court did not tolerate such offences, the offenders would not be granted lenient sentences.
Yu and Cheung were earlier 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.
They 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.
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 Winky Lam.
William Yu Lik-wai, 50, former chief executive officer of Gloucester Hotel (GH), received a jail term of two and a half years in total, while businessman Albert Cheung, 50, was jailed for two years and three months.
In sentencing, Judge Pang Chung-ping said bribery was evil and struck into the heart of the commercial environment and reputation of Hong Kong. As the court did not tolerate such offences, the offenders would not be granted lenient sentences.
Yu and Cheung were earlier 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.
They 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.
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 Winky Lam.