Head chef of Chinese restaurant charged by ICAC with bribery and perversion
2022-11-11
A then head chef of a Chinese restaurant was charged by ICAC today (November 11) with soliciting and accepting bribes from a subordinate for assisting the subordinate and his wife to maintain employment with the restaurant and get promoted, and perversion by inciting the subordinate to make false statements to the Commission in respect of its investigation.
Zhong Sheng, 40, former head chef of Fu Rong Food & Beverage Limited (Fu Rong), faces eight charges — three of agent soliciting an advantage and three of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and two of incitement to do an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to Common Law.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (November 15) for plea.
The offences took place between October 2019 and May 2022. At the material time, the couple were employed by Fu Rong, a restaurant with two branches. As the head chef of Fu Rong, the defendant was responsible for overseeing its kitchen operation and making recommendation to the company on staff posting and promotion. The couple were his subordinates.
It is alleged that the defendant solicited from the husband a bribe between HK$20,000 and HK$40,000 for maintaining the employment of the wife with Fu Rong, and finally accepted a bribe of HK$10,000 and a bribe of Renminbi 10,000 from the husband for the same purpose.
The defendant also allegedly solicited from the husband a bribe of HK$1,000 per month twice and a one-off payment of HK$2,000, and finally accepted a bribe of HK$2,000 from the husband for assisting him to transfer his post with a pay rise of HK$2,000 and to obtain a promotion at Fu Rong.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. During the investigation, the defendant incited the husband to give a false statement to the ICAC on two occasions.
Fu Rong prohibited its employees to use their positions to solicit or accept any advantages. It has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson reminds members of the public to report to the Commission immediately should they come across any suspicion of corruption.
Zhong Sheng, 40, former head chef of Fu Rong Food & Beverage Limited (Fu Rong), faces eight charges — three of agent soliciting an advantage and three of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and two of incitement to do an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to Common Law.
The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (November 15) for plea.
The offences took place between October 2019 and May 2022. At the material time, the couple were employed by Fu Rong, a restaurant with two branches. As the head chef of Fu Rong, the defendant was responsible for overseeing its kitchen operation and making recommendation to the company on staff posting and promotion. The couple were his subordinates.
It is alleged that the defendant solicited from the husband a bribe between HK$20,000 and HK$40,000 for maintaining the employment of the wife with Fu Rong, and finally accepted a bribe of HK$10,000 and a bribe of Renminbi 10,000 from the husband for the same purpose.
The defendant also allegedly solicited from the husband a bribe of HK$1,000 per month twice and a one-off payment of HK$2,000, and finally accepted a bribe of HK$2,000 from the husband for assisting him to transfer his post with a pay rise of HK$2,000 and to obtain a promotion at Fu Rong.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. During the investigation, the defendant incited the husband to give a false statement to the ICAC on two occasions.
Fu Rong prohibited its employees to use their positions to solicit or accept any advantages. It has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
An ICAC spokesperson reminds members of the public to report to the Commission immediately should they come across any suspicion of corruption.