Registered contractor charged by ICAC with offering smartphone to EMSD senior engineer
2022-10-26
A registered contractor of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) was charged by the ICAC today (October 26) with offering a smartphone to and paying tele-communications service fees for a Senior Building Services Engineer of the department.
Ho Chi-kuen, 44, director-cum-shareholder of Profit Electrical Engineering Limited (PEEL) and Cheung Ying Electrical Engineering Limited (CYEEL), faces two counts of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts for plea on Friday (October 28).
In accordance with the Electricity Ordinance, individuals and companies are required to register with the EMSD as registered electrical worker (REW) and electrical contractors (REC) respectively for carrying out any electrical work in Hong Kong.
At the material time, both PEEL and CYEEL were RECs while the defendant was an REW. In about 2015, the defendant came to know Zsa Sing-tak, a Senior Building Services Engineer of the EMSD through the introduction of subcontractors of the department.
In early November 2017, PEEL was engaged to inspect and test a fixed electrical installation at a government holiday camp in Lantau Island. On November 30, 2017, the defendant submitted a certificate signed by him in the capacity of an REW of PEEL to the EMSD for endorsement.
It is alleged that on November 15 and 30, 2017, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, whilst having dealings with the EMSD, offered to Zsa payments totalling over $9,300, being payments for Zsa’s tele-communications service fees, which included a smartphone obtained from the service provider. The smartphone was subsequently given to Zsa.
Zsa, 57, was earlier charged by the ICAC with maintaining a living standard above his official emoluments, bribery, misconduct in public office and money laundering in a separate case involving other EMSD minor works contracts.
The ICAC reminds those having dealings with government departments and public bodies not to offer advantages such as gifts to officers and staff of government departments and public bodies to avoid giving rise to conflicts of interest or breaching of the POBO. They may contact the ICAC should there be any enquiries.
Ho Chi-kuen, 44, director-cum-shareholder of Profit Electrical Engineering Limited (PEEL) and Cheung Ying Electrical Engineering Limited (CYEEL), faces two counts of offering an advantage to a prescribed officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts for plea on Friday (October 28).
In accordance with the Electricity Ordinance, individuals and companies are required to register with the EMSD as registered electrical worker (REW) and electrical contractors (REC) respectively for carrying out any electrical work in Hong Kong.
At the material time, both PEEL and CYEEL were RECs while the defendant was an REW. In about 2015, the defendant came to know Zsa Sing-tak, a Senior Building Services Engineer of the EMSD through the introduction of subcontractors of the department.
In early November 2017, PEEL was engaged to inspect and test a fixed electrical installation at a government holiday camp in Lantau Island. On November 30, 2017, the defendant submitted a certificate signed by him in the capacity of an REW of PEEL to the EMSD for endorsement.
It is alleged that on November 15 and 30, 2017, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, whilst having dealings with the EMSD, offered to Zsa payments totalling over $9,300, being payments for Zsa’s tele-communications service fees, which included a smartphone obtained from the service provider. The smartphone was subsequently given to Zsa.
Zsa, 57, was earlier charged by the ICAC with maintaining a living standard above his official emoluments, bribery, misconduct in public office and money laundering in a separate case involving other EMSD minor works contracts.
The ICAC reminds those having dealings with government departments and public bodies not to offer advantages such as gifts to officers and staff of government departments and public bodies to avoid giving rise to conflicts of interest or breaching of the POBO. They may contact the ICAC should there be any enquiries.