Manager jailed for accepting $300,000 illegal kickbacks
2015-10-28
A manager of a company selling various brands of digital video cameras (DVCs), who was charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sent to jail for accepting up to $300,000 in illegal kickbacks from a supplier for placing purchase orders for DVCs with it.
Paul Chan Tsz-wai, 44, a manager of Marcello (Tax Free) International Department Store Corporation Limited (Marcello), was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistracy.
In sentencing, Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han said the bribery offence committed by the defendant was of a serious nature because it lasted a long period of time and involved a substantial amount of money.
The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay about $65,000 as restitution to Marcello, after taking into account that he had returned the remaining portion of the illegal kickbacks to the company.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by Marcello as a manager tasked to promote the sale of DVCs and place purchase orders with suppliers, including Yurendis Japan Corporation Limited (Yurendis).
The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers on February 17, 2014. When interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted that he started to accept kickbacks from the operator of Yurendis after his promotion to the post of manager in early 2011.
The defendant also said at the beginning, he received $10 per DVC he sold, and it was later raised to $15 or $20 per DVC. He estimated that he had accepted about $250,000 to $300,000 in total from the operator of Yurendis between July 1, 2011 and August 31, 2013.
The defendant further admitted that after receiving the kickbacks from the operator of Yurendis, he had put more effort to promote its DVCs, and placed more purchase orders with Yurendis, the court was told.
Marcello had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Terry Kan, assisted by ICAC officer Jill Law.
Paul Chan Tsz-wai, 44, a manager of Marcello (Tax Free) International Department Store Corporation Limited (Marcello), was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistracy.
In sentencing, Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han said the bribery offence committed by the defendant was of a serious nature because it lasted a long period of time and involved a substantial amount of money.
The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay about $65,000 as restitution to Marcello, after taking into account that he had returned the remaining portion of the illegal kickbacks to the company.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by Marcello as a manager tasked to promote the sale of DVCs and place purchase orders with suppliers, including Yurendis Japan Corporation Limited (Yurendis).
The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers on February 17, 2014. When interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted that he started to accept kickbacks from the operator of Yurendis after his promotion to the post of manager in early 2011.
The defendant also said at the beginning, he received $10 per DVC he sold, and it was later raised to $15 or $20 per DVC. He estimated that he had accepted about $250,000 to $300,000 in total from the operator of Yurendis between July 1, 2011 and August 31, 2013.
The defendant further admitted that after receiving the kickbacks from the operator of Yurendis, he had put more effort to promote its DVCs, and placed more purchase orders with Yurendis, the court was told.
Marcello had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Terry Kan, assisted by ICAC officer Jill Law.