Ex-site team leaders charged by ICAC with accepting $100,000 bribes from Third Runway Project’s bar-benders
2023-4-19
Two 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 (April 19) with accepting illegal rebates totalling about $100,000 from five bar-benders for continuing their employment with the sub-contractor.
Xu Ergao, 47; and Guo Tianbao, 42, both former site team leaders for bar-bending works of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), face five counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for plea on Friday (April 21).
MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Xu and Guo were site team leaders leading the same team of bar-benders working at the project’s construction site.
It is alleged that between August 2020 and April 2021, the two defendants conspired with five bar-benders separately to accept five illegal rebates, each ranging from about $3,900 to about $33,000 and totalling about $100,000, to assist the five bar-benders to continue their employment with MEL.
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.
In recent years, the ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against illicit acceptance of illegal rebates from construction workers. Regarding the Third Runway Project, 23 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the project were charged by the ICAC with bribery. Eleven of the defendants had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Nine others are awaiting trial, while the prosecution offered no evidence against a defendant. The remaining duo are the defendants in this case, who will enter plea on Friday.
As the relevant investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Xu Ergao, 47; and Guo Tianbao, 42, both former site team leaders for bar-bending works of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), face five counts of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for plea on Friday (April 21).
MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Xu and Guo were site team leaders leading the same team of bar-benders working at the project’s construction site.
It is alleged that between August 2020 and April 2021, the two defendants conspired with five bar-benders separately to accept five illegal rebates, each ranging from about $3,900 to about $33,000 and totalling about $100,000, to assist the five bar-benders to continue their employment with MEL.
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.
In recent years, the ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against illicit acceptance of illegal rebates from construction workers. Regarding the Third Runway Project, 23 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the project were charged by the ICAC with bribery. Eleven of the defendants had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Nine others are awaiting trial, while the prosecution offered no evidence against a defendant. The remaining duo are the defendants in this case, who will enter plea on Friday.
As the relevant investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.