Ex-employee of investment firm jailed for accepting bribes over vehicle maintenance orders
2023-5-11
A former employee of an investment firm, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 11) sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts for conspiring with two proprietors of a garage to accept bribes for awarding vehicle maintenance orders of the firm to the garage.
Fung Kwok-kit, 62, former general assistant-cum-driver of Asia Financial Holdings Limited (Asia Financial Holdings), was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Vivian Ho Wai-han said corruption is a serious offence which has an adverse impact on the business world, warranting a custodial sentence.
The magistrate had earlier ordered the defendant to pay $12,000, being the bribes involved in the case, as restitution to Asia Financial Holdings.
At the material time, Asia Financial Holdings had appointed United Motors Company (United Motors) as one of its vehicle maintenance contractors. United Motors was operated by its sole proprietor and a former proprietor.
Upon the recommendation of the defendant, Asia Financial Holdings had awarded about 40 vehicle maintenance orders to United Motors and settled maintenance fees totalling about $360,000 between January 2018 and October 2020.
The court heard that the proprietor and former proprietor of United Motors had inflated the maintenance fees concerned upon the request of the defendant and passed the inflated portions, which involved at least $12,000, to him as rebates.
Asia Financial Holdings did not allow the defendant to solicit or accept any advantages for awarding the vehicle maintenance orders to United Motors. Had Asia Financial Holdings known the maintenance fees were false, it would not have settled them.
United Motors’ sole proprietor Yip Pui-yam and a former proprietor Yip Yun-tim were also charged for their roles in the case. They were both sentenced to a community service order after pleading guilty to a bribery offence.
Asia Financial Holdings had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Joey Lin, assisted by ICAC officer Andrew Ho.
Fung Kwok-kit, 62, former general assistant-cum-driver of Asia Financial Holdings Limited (Asia Financial Holdings), was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Vivian Ho Wai-han said corruption is a serious offence which has an adverse impact on the business world, warranting a custodial sentence.
The magistrate had earlier ordered the defendant to pay $12,000, being the bribes involved in the case, as restitution to Asia Financial Holdings.
At the material time, Asia Financial Holdings had appointed United Motors Company (United Motors) as one of its vehicle maintenance contractors. United Motors was operated by its sole proprietor and a former proprietor.
Upon the recommendation of the defendant, Asia Financial Holdings had awarded about 40 vehicle maintenance orders to United Motors and settled maintenance fees totalling about $360,000 between January 2018 and October 2020.
The court heard that the proprietor and former proprietor of United Motors had inflated the maintenance fees concerned upon the request of the defendant and passed the inflated portions, which involved at least $12,000, to him as rebates.
Asia Financial Holdings did not allow the defendant to solicit or accept any advantages for awarding the vehicle maintenance orders to United Motors. Had Asia Financial Holdings known the maintenance fees were false, it would not have settled them.
United Motors’ sole proprietor Yip Pui-yam and a former proprietor Yip Yun-tim were also charged for their roles in the case. They were both sentenced to a community service order after pleading guilty to a bribery offence.
Asia Financial Holdings had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Joey Lin, assisted by ICAC officer Andrew Ho.