Six serving and former gully emptying team workers arrested
2000-2-17
The ICAC arrested five serving and one former staff members of nightshift gully emptying teams of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in an investigation initiated as a result of a referral from the then Provisional Urban Council (PUC).
Four Foremen and a Motor Driver, attached to the Gully Emptying Team (Kowloon Region), were arrested in a two-day operation which ended today. They will be released on bail later tonight.
A former Workman was arrested last month and put on ICAC bail, pending further enquiries.
In October last year, the then PUC referred to the ICAC a complaint alleging that members of the nightshift gully emptying teams had falsified work records and failed to carry out their duties, with the corrupt connivance of their supervisors.
There were three gully emptying teams responsible for cleansing 5,200 gullies in the Kowloon region. Each team comprised five members - one Foreman as the team leader, one Special Driver to operate a gully emptier, one Motor Driver to drive a pick-up van and two Workmen to carry out the cleansing work.
They were required to use the gully emptier to collect sand and grit from gully traps and unload them at the West Kowloon Refuse Transfer Station in Stonecutters Island.
ICAC enquiries revealed that during most of their duty nights, the foremen arrested had allegedly idled at the Sai Yee Street Depot of the then Urban Services Department in Mong Kok while the Motor Driver arrested rested in a pick-up van.
Instead of supervising the gully cleansing work, the foremen had allegedly instructed their subordinates to fill up the gully emptier with tap water at the Cha Kwo Ling Depot before driving the vehicle to the Sai Yee Street Depot when false entries on the vehicle log book were made.
The foremen allegedly signed on the log book to certify that the records were true.
Investigations also found that the former Workman arrested had allegedly requested his colleagues to falsify entries in the attendance book when he was in the Mainland.
“ Enquiries are continuing to find out whether the case involves corruption or any other criminal offence, ” an ICAC spokesman said.
“ We will also seek legal advice as to whether criminal prosecution or recommendation for disciplinary action is appropriate. ”
The FEHD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
Four Foremen and a Motor Driver, attached to the Gully Emptying Team (Kowloon Region), were arrested in a two-day operation which ended today. They will be released on bail later tonight.
A former Workman was arrested last month and put on ICAC bail, pending further enquiries.
In October last year, the then PUC referred to the ICAC a complaint alleging that members of the nightshift gully emptying teams had falsified work records and failed to carry out their duties, with the corrupt connivance of their supervisors.
There were three gully emptying teams responsible for cleansing 5,200 gullies in the Kowloon region. Each team comprised five members - one Foreman as the team leader, one Special Driver to operate a gully emptier, one Motor Driver to drive a pick-up van and two Workmen to carry out the cleansing work.
They were required to use the gully emptier to collect sand and grit from gully traps and unload them at the West Kowloon Refuse Transfer Station in Stonecutters Island.
ICAC enquiries revealed that during most of their duty nights, the foremen arrested had allegedly idled at the Sai Yee Street Depot of the then Urban Services Department in Mong Kok while the Motor Driver arrested rested in a pick-up van.
Instead of supervising the gully cleansing work, the foremen had allegedly instructed their subordinates to fill up the gully emptier with tap water at the Cha Kwo Ling Depot before driving the vehicle to the Sai Yee Street Depot when false entries on the vehicle log book were made.
The foremen allegedly signed on the log book to certify that the records were true.
Investigations also found that the former Workman arrested had allegedly requested his colleagues to falsify entries in the attendance book when he was in the Mainland.
“ Enquiries are continuing to find out whether the case involves corruption or any other criminal offence, ” an ICAC spokesman said.
“ We will also seek legal advice as to whether criminal prosecution or recommendation for disciplinary action is appropriate. ”
The FEHD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.