18 months for company director in $1m corruption scam
2000-3-7
A director of a chemical products company, charged by the ICAC for conspiracy to defraud and offering illegal rebate totalling about $1 million, was jailed for 18 months at Tuen Mun Court today (Tuesday).
Lam Ping-kai, 51, director of Alpha-Chem Colours Ltd. (Alpha-Chem), was found guilty on one conspiracy and 19 corruption charges.
He was sentenced by magistrate Mr Joseph Yau to 12 months' imprisonment for the conspiracy charge and six months for the corruption charges, to be run consecutively.
The 19 corruption charges alleged Lam of agreeing to offer or offering advantages totalling $442,100 to eight factory supervisors and company directors to obtain purchase orders between 1993 and 1998.
The conspiracy charge accused Lam of conspiring with supervisors of Gloria Weaving and Knitting Factory Limited (Gloria) Lee Chi-leung and Yung Po-kau to defraud Gloria between January 1995 and May 1998.
The court heard that Lam had conspired with Lee and Yung to dishonestly represent that Alpha-Chem had sold chemical products to Gloria when in fact there were no such commercial transactions.
As a result, Gloria was defrauded of about $481,000 in total.
ICAC Chief Investigator Daniel Tung said: "The successful investigation of this case is a result of ICAC's proactive approach.
" After receiving a corruption complaint from the public, we vigorously pursued the case and deployed an undercover officer to collect further evidence. ”
Apart from Lam, eight others were charged for accepting bribes from Lam, five of whom were convicted and given jail sentences while another defendant is pending trial.
Lam's trial, involving more than 40 prosecution witnesses and spanning 67 days, was the longest hearing for ICAC cases at magistrate's courts, the Chief Investigator said.
" Any employee who solicits or accepts commissions over his employer's business without the employer's consent is committing a corruption offence. Those who offer illegal commissions are also liable to prosecution under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
" This case once again demonstrates bribery will only ruin business and the law clearly states that customary practice in a trade is not a defence," he added.
The prosecution was today represented by Alfred Leung on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Tung.
Lam Ping-kai, 51, director of Alpha-Chem Colours Ltd. (Alpha-Chem), was found guilty on one conspiracy and 19 corruption charges.
He was sentenced by magistrate Mr Joseph Yau to 12 months' imprisonment for the conspiracy charge and six months for the corruption charges, to be run consecutively.
The 19 corruption charges alleged Lam of agreeing to offer or offering advantages totalling $442,100 to eight factory supervisors and company directors to obtain purchase orders between 1993 and 1998.
The conspiracy charge accused Lam of conspiring with supervisors of Gloria Weaving and Knitting Factory Limited (Gloria) Lee Chi-leung and Yung Po-kau to defraud Gloria between January 1995 and May 1998.
The court heard that Lam had conspired with Lee and Yung to dishonestly represent that Alpha-Chem had sold chemical products to Gloria when in fact there were no such commercial transactions.
As a result, Gloria was defrauded of about $481,000 in total.
ICAC Chief Investigator Daniel Tung said: "The successful investigation of this case is a result of ICAC's proactive approach.
" After receiving a corruption complaint from the public, we vigorously pursued the case and deployed an undercover officer to collect further evidence. ”
Apart from Lam, eight others were charged for accepting bribes from Lam, five of whom were convicted and given jail sentences while another defendant is pending trial.
Lam's trial, involving more than 40 prosecution witnesses and spanning 67 days, was the longest hearing for ICAC cases at magistrate's courts, the Chief Investigator said.
" Any employee who solicits or accepts commissions over his employer's business without the employer's consent is committing a corruption offence. Those who offer illegal commissions are also liable to prosecution under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
" This case once again demonstrates bribery will only ruin business and the law clearly states that customary practice in a trade is not a defence," he added.
The prosecution was today represented by Alfred Leung on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Tung.