Four charged by ICAC with accepting $430,000 bribes from Third Runway Project construction workers
2023-3-10
Four former site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project) were charged by the ICAC today (March 10) with soliciting and accepting illegal rebates totalling about $430,000 from around 40 riggers, bar-benders and carpenters in relation to their employment with the sub-contractor. Arising from the relevant investigation, the ICAC has so far charged a total of 21 people.
The ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against illicit acceptance of illegal rebates from construction workers of Third Runway Project since 2021, leading to the prosecution of 17 people earlier for alleged acceptance of illegal rebates from over 25 construction workers. As the relevant corruption investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.
An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to pay illegal rebates in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. Report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.
Upon receipt of further legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC today charged four former site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project in separate cases. The defendants face a total of 29 charges – 20 of agent accepting an advantage; five of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages; and four of agent soliciting an advantage. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (March 14) for plea.
At the material time, MLife Engineering Limited (MEL) was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works.
In the first case which took place between August 2020 and March 2021, Liu Yin-man, 62, former leader of a team of riggers of MEL, allegedly conspired together with another team leader and various riggers for him and the team leader to receive illegal rebates of about $230,000 from 29 riggers.
Former leader of a team of bar benders of MEL Wong Hei, 51, was charged in a separate case which took place between March 2020 and July 2021. It is alleged that Wong conspired with four bar benders respectively to accept illegal rebates totalling about $120,000 from the latter. It is further alleged that Wong accepted $1,000 and solicited illegal rebates in relation to 55 working days from two of the bar benders respectively, and received from another bar bender illegal rebate of $1,300.
The third case took place between September 2020 and March 2021. Former leader of a team of bar benders of MEL Ip Ying-lam, 40, allegedly accepted from a bar bender and a general worker illegal rebate of over $55,000 and $3,900 respectively.
Another case took place between June 2021 and March 2022. It is alleged that former leader of a team of carpenters of MEL Mok Pak-cheung, 62, solicited from two carpenters illegal rebates of $200 to $400 per working day, and received illegal rebate of $20,000 from one of them.
ICAC investigation revealed that the four defendants allegedly solicited and accepted illegal rebates from workers for assisting them to secure or continue their employment with MEL.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Among the 17 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project charged earlier, 11 had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Five others are awaiting trial, while the prosecution offered no evidence to the charge against a defendant.
The ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against illicit acceptance of illegal rebates from construction workers of Third Runway Project since 2021, leading to the prosecution of 17 people earlier for alleged acceptance of illegal rebates from over 25 construction workers. As the relevant corruption investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.
An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to pay illegal rebates in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. Report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.
Upon receipt of further legal advice from the Department of Justice, the ICAC today charged four former site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project in separate cases. The defendants face a total of 29 charges – 20 of agent accepting an advantage; five of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages; and four of agent soliciting an advantage. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts next Tuesday (March 14) for plea.
At the material time, MLife Engineering Limited (MEL) was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works.
In the first case which took place between August 2020 and March 2021, Liu Yin-man, 62, former leader of a team of riggers of MEL, allegedly conspired together with another team leader and various riggers for him and the team leader to receive illegal rebates of about $230,000 from 29 riggers.
Former leader of a team of bar benders of MEL Wong Hei, 51, was charged in a separate case which took place between March 2020 and July 2021. It is alleged that Wong conspired with four bar benders respectively to accept illegal rebates totalling about $120,000 from the latter. It is further alleged that Wong accepted $1,000 and solicited illegal rebates in relation to 55 working days from two of the bar benders respectively, and received from another bar bender illegal rebate of $1,300.
The third case took place between September 2020 and March 2021. Former leader of a team of bar benders of MEL Ip Ying-lam, 40, allegedly accepted from a bar bender and a general worker illegal rebate of over $55,000 and $3,900 respectively.
Another case took place between June 2021 and March 2022. It is alleged that former leader of a team of carpenters of MEL Mok Pak-cheung, 62, solicited from two carpenters illegal rebates of $200 to $400 per working day, and received illegal rebate of $20,000 from one of them.
ICAC investigation revealed that the four defendants allegedly solicited and accepted illegal rebates from workers for assisting them to secure or continue their employment with MEL.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Among the 17 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project charged earlier, 11 had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Five others are awaiting trial, while the prosecution offered no evidence to the charge against a defendant.