Six charged over false concrete sample plot at HD site
2000-4-27
Six former technicians of a building material testing company were today (Thursday) charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud by producing false concrete samples relating to a Housing Department (HD) construction project in Tuen Mun.
The site in Tuen Mun Area 52 Phase 2 was designated for the construction of seven public housing blocks.
Materialab Limited (Materialab) was appointed by HD to conduct tests on various building materials at the site.
The six defendants - Chan Hing-wah, 26, Lee Wai-ki, Jeremy, Chan Chi-hung, Chris and Lo Wing-hoi, all 25, and Choi Kim-kwan, 27 and Lee Yuk-tong, Tomson, 35 - will appear at Tuen Mun Court tomorrow (Friday) at 9:30 am .
The defendants were employed by Materialab to work full time at the site, and were tasked with collecting concrete samples for testing.
For every five mixer trucks of concrete (or 25 cubic metres) delivered to the site, the defendants were required to cast two concrete sample cubes, which would be used for compression tests. The reports on the tests would then be sent to HD.
It was alleged that the defendants had not complied with the requirements in making concrete cubes.
They allegedly made a number of sample cubes in advance before 6:00 pm from certain sets of concrete to avoid working overtime. They were also said to have subsequently falsified the records of the sample cubes.
The six defendants now face a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud Materialab by dishonestly representing that concrete sample cubes cast for testing by Materialab had been made in accordance with the required procedures between April and September 1999.
The case originated from an investigation into a corruption report alleging that the technicians had taken bribes from a contractor for not following proper procedures in collecting concrete samples for testing. The corruption allegation was later found to be unsubstantiated.
Investigations also revealed that according to subsequent compression tests carried out by HD, the strength of the concrete at the site was up to standard.
The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.
The site in Tuen Mun Area 52 Phase 2 was designated for the construction of seven public housing blocks.
Materialab Limited (Materialab) was appointed by HD to conduct tests on various building materials at the site.
The six defendants - Chan Hing-wah, 26, Lee Wai-ki, Jeremy, Chan Chi-hung, Chris and Lo Wing-hoi, all 25, and Choi Kim-kwan, 27 and Lee Yuk-tong, Tomson, 35 - will appear at Tuen Mun Court tomorrow (Friday) at 9:30 am .
The defendants were employed by Materialab to work full time at the site, and were tasked with collecting concrete samples for testing.
For every five mixer trucks of concrete (or 25 cubic metres) delivered to the site, the defendants were required to cast two concrete sample cubes, which would be used for compression tests. The reports on the tests would then be sent to HD.
It was alleged that the defendants had not complied with the requirements in making concrete cubes.
They allegedly made a number of sample cubes in advance before 6:00 pm from certain sets of concrete to avoid working overtime. They were also said to have subsequently falsified the records of the sample cubes.
The six defendants now face a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud Materialab by dishonestly representing that concrete sample cubes cast for testing by Materialab had been made in accordance with the required procedures between April and September 1999.
The case originated from an investigation into a corruption report alleging that the technicians had taken bribes from a contractor for not following proper procedures in collecting concrete samples for testing. The corruption allegation was later found to be unsubstantiated.
Investigations also revealed that according to subsequent compression tests carried out by HD, the strength of the concrete at the site was up to standard.
The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.