Former Jockey Club chief chef admits bribery over inferior 'dim sum' ingredients
2000-7-6
A former chief chef of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) admitted at the Eastern Court today (Thursday) that he accepted regular bribe payments for allowing a food supplier to provide HKJC's Shatin clubhouse with inferior "dim sum" ingredients.
Leung Kam-keung, 46, former "dim-sum" chief chef of the HKJC's Shatin clubhouse, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of accepting an advantage as a public servant between March 1996 and December 1999.
The court heard that Leung had accepted $87,500 in total from Au Pak-chung and Li Po-sum, respectively operator and accountant of Shing Fat Ho, as a reward for placing unnecessary purchase orders and conniving at the supply of substandard food materials b y the supplier.
Shing Fat Ho was an authorized food supplier of HKJC.
Au and Li, who faced a joint charge of conspiracy to offer advantages, pleaded not guilty today.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy remanded Leung in ICAC custody and granted Au and Li bail of $10,000 in cash each. The magistrate ordered the three defendants to appear in court again on July 20, 2000.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption complaint. The HKJC rendered its full assistance during the ICAC investigation.
The defendants were arrested by the ICAC in December last year at the Shatin clubhouse after delivery was made by Shing Fat Ho. The delivered goods, including diluted coconut juice, cream milk and cornstarch, were seized by ICAC officers.
Subsequent forensic examinations carried out by the Government Laboratory confirmed that ingredients seized during the arrest were of extremely inferior quality.
The court heard that between December 1995 and May 1997, Leung had accepted a monthly bribe payment of from $1,000 to $3,000 in cash from Au.
In May 1997, Leung demanded to raise the bribe payment be raised as he was in financial difficulties. Au agreed.
Since then, Leung had placed excessive orders of coconut juice and cream milk with Shing Fat Ho. In return, the supplier delivered the ingredients, in diluted form, to HKJC. The monthly bribe payment was raised to $4,000 since June 1997.
The court also heard that Shing Fat Ho had delivered inferior cornstarch to HKJC, instead of water chestnut flour ordered.
When interviewed under caution, Leung admitted that he had accepted about $151,100 in total from Shing Fat Ho.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Fok Po-lun.
Leung Kam-keung, 46, former "dim-sum" chief chef of the HKJC's Shatin clubhouse, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of accepting an advantage as a public servant between March 1996 and December 1999.
The court heard that Leung had accepted $87,500 in total from Au Pak-chung and Li Po-sum, respectively operator and accountant of Shing Fat Ho, as a reward for placing unnecessary purchase orders and conniving at the supply of substandard food materials b y the supplier.
Shing Fat Ho was an authorized food supplier of HKJC.
Au and Li, who faced a joint charge of conspiracy to offer advantages, pleaded not guilty today.
Magistrate Mr Ian Candy remanded Leung in ICAC custody and granted Au and Li bail of $10,000 in cash each. The magistrate ordered the three defendants to appear in court again on July 20, 2000.
The ICAC commenced an investigation after receiving a corruption complaint. The HKJC rendered its full assistance during the ICAC investigation.
The defendants were arrested by the ICAC in December last year at the Shatin clubhouse after delivery was made by Shing Fat Ho. The delivered goods, including diluted coconut juice, cream milk and cornstarch, were seized by ICAC officers.
Subsequent forensic examinations carried out by the Government Laboratory confirmed that ingredients seized during the arrest were of extremely inferior quality.
The court heard that between December 1995 and May 1997, Leung had accepted a monthly bribe payment of from $1,000 to $3,000 in cash from Au.
In May 1997, Leung demanded to raise the bribe payment be raised as he was in financial difficulties. Au agreed.
Since then, Leung had placed excessive orders of coconut juice and cream milk with Shing Fat Ho. In return, the supplier delivered the ingredients, in diluted form, to HKJC. The monthly bribe payment was raised to $4,000 since June 1997.
The court also heard that Shing Fat Ho had delivered inferior cornstarch to HKJC, instead of water chestnut flour ordered.
When interviewed under caution, Leung admitted that he had accepted about $151,100 in total from Shing Fat Ho.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Fok Po-lun.