Seven crematorium workers face bribery and coffin theft charges
2000-7-25
A Senior Foreman and five Artisans of the then Urban Services Department (USD), together with a former Artisan, were charged by the ICAC today (Tuesday) with bribery and stealing burial property from coffins at the Cape Collinson Crematorium.
The seven defendants are Lau Tat-ho, 49, Senior Foreman; Siu Yat-heung, 50, Wong Chi-sum, 37, Lee Kim-wah, 46, Ko Yee-chiu, 52, Yan Kwok-yin, 38, all Artisans; and Lam Chi-keung, 65, former Artisan.
They will appear at 9:30 am in Eastern Court tomorrow (Wednesday) to face a total of 23 charges.
The case originated from a corruption complaint referred by the management of the then USD in March last year, which suspected that corruption might be involved in alleged coffin thefts.
The seven defendants were arrested in an ICAC operation in October last year. Another arrestee, Lam Pak-shing, 32, also former USD Artisan, was jailed for 30 months in January this year for bribing his superior and coffin thefts.
Senior Foreman Lau Tat-ho faces one count of soliciting and one of accepting an advantage from Lam Pak-shing for not reporting thefts committed by Lam and writing Lam a favourable staff report.
The alleged advantage includes a tie, a pair of jeans and a lady's watch, which are suspected to be stolen burial property.
Siu Yat-heung faces eight charges. Six of them allege that Siu has stolen from coffins a pair of shoes, a pair of glasses, a metal clasp, a coffin handle, a Chinese musical instrument, a coat and a tracksuit.
Siu is also alleged to have conspired with Lam Pak-shing to steal and assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen burial goods, including ear-rings, finger-rings, necklaces, watches, clothes, trousers, sport shoes and ties.
Lam Chi-keung is charged with two counts of stealing 48 finger-rings, coins, an ear-ring, several necklaces, pendants, a cross and a number of medals from coffins. He is also alleged of one count of possessing another person's Hong Kong identity card.
While Lee Kim-wah faces two counts of stealing a pair of sport shoes and a finger-ring, Yan Kwok-yin is accused of stealing a gold ornament and a pair of sport shoes on two occasions.
Wong Chi-sum is accused of four counts of theft.
Siu, Wong, Lee, Ko and Yan jointly face two charges of conspiracy to steal burial property.
The alleged offences took place between August 1, 1976 and October 26 last year.
All the defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.
The seven defendants are Lau Tat-ho, 49, Senior Foreman; Siu Yat-heung, 50, Wong Chi-sum, 37, Lee Kim-wah, 46, Ko Yee-chiu, 52, Yan Kwok-yin, 38, all Artisans; and Lam Chi-keung, 65, former Artisan.
They will appear at 9:30 am in Eastern Court tomorrow (Wednesday) to face a total of 23 charges.
The case originated from a corruption complaint referred by the management of the then USD in March last year, which suspected that corruption might be involved in alleged coffin thefts.
The seven defendants were arrested in an ICAC operation in October last year. Another arrestee, Lam Pak-shing, 32, also former USD Artisan, was jailed for 30 months in January this year for bribing his superior and coffin thefts.
Senior Foreman Lau Tat-ho faces one count of soliciting and one of accepting an advantage from Lam Pak-shing for not reporting thefts committed by Lam and writing Lam a favourable staff report.
The alleged advantage includes a tie, a pair of jeans and a lady's watch, which are suspected to be stolen burial property.
Siu Yat-heung faces eight charges. Six of them allege that Siu has stolen from coffins a pair of shoes, a pair of glasses, a metal clasp, a coffin handle, a Chinese musical instrument, a coat and a tracksuit.
Siu is also alleged to have conspired with Lam Pak-shing to steal and assist in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen burial goods, including ear-rings, finger-rings, necklaces, watches, clothes, trousers, sport shoes and ties.
Lam Chi-keung is charged with two counts of stealing 48 finger-rings, coins, an ear-ring, several necklaces, pendants, a cross and a number of medals from coffins. He is also alleged of one count of possessing another person's Hong Kong identity card.
While Lee Kim-wah faces two counts of stealing a pair of sport shoes and a finger-ring, Yan Kwok-yin is accused of stealing a gold ornament and a pair of sport shoes on two occasions.
Wong Chi-sum is accused of four counts of theft.
Siu, Wong, Lee, Ko and Yan jointly face two charges of conspiracy to steal burial property.
The alleged offences took place between August 1, 1976 and October 26 last year.
All the defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.