Five sentenced in cargo terminal 'queue jumping' bribery case
2000-10-16
Five persons charged by the ICAC in connection with a bribery scam involving a cargo handling company at Kwai Chung Container Terminal were today (Monday) sentenced to jail terms or community service.
Tam Chak-lin, 33, and Chong Chi-leung, 27, both patrol officers of Asia Terminals Ltd. (ATL), were jailed for 10 months and six months respectively. Tam and Chong were also ordered to pay $20,000 and $9,000 in restitution respectively.
Sze Man-kit, 34, and Lui Kwai-chi, 39, respectively proprietor and former manageress of Wing Kit Transportation (Wing Kit), were ordered to perform 100 hours and 60 hours of community services; while Lui Wah-ming, 34, former supervisor of Wing Kit, had to perform 80 hours’ community service.
In sentencing, Shatin Court Magistrate Mr William Ng said immediate custodial sentences were imposed on Tam and Chong as their conduct constituted a breach of trust and the bribery scheme had been in operation for a prolonged period.
The judge added that the other three defendants played a lesser role in the bribery scam.
The five earlier pleaded guilty to a total of eight corruption offences.
Two others - Chan Suk-ha, 33, proprietor of Hing Chau Transportation, and Ng Kwok-leung, 29, transportation worker of Wing Kit - were charged in connection with this case.
Chan was today found guilty of two counts of offering advantages, and will be sentenced on October 30 this year.
Ng pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to solicit and offer advantages, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in November last year.
The court heard that lorries and container trucks frequently went in and out of ATL warehouses at Kwai Chung Container Terminal for loading or unloading goods.
Because of the busy traffic, lorry drivers might be required to queue up for hours before they could carry out their loading or unloading.
ATL employed patrol officers to maintain smooth traffic and monitor security and safety.
The court was told that through the introduction of Ng, patrol officer Tam had agreed to accept a monthly bribe of $15,000 from an undercover ICAC officer, Mr Ma, to help Mr Ma jump queues.
Tam also accepted $20,000 in total from Wing Kit, and agreed to receive a monthly payment of $3,000 from Chan for the same reason.
Sze, Lui Kwai-chi and Lui Wah-ming had offered a monthly payment of about $10,000 to Tam.
Another patrol officer Chong had accepted $6,000 in total from Tam, and agreed to receive a monthly payment of $3,000 from the owners of another firm - Hung Fai Transportation Company.
Chan had offered Tam $5,000 and agreed to give him a monthly payment of $3,000.
The offences took place between August 1997 and March last year.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Frankie Liu.
Tam Chak-lin, 33, and Chong Chi-leung, 27, both patrol officers of Asia Terminals Ltd. (ATL), were jailed for 10 months and six months respectively. Tam and Chong were also ordered to pay $20,000 and $9,000 in restitution respectively.
Sze Man-kit, 34, and Lui Kwai-chi, 39, respectively proprietor and former manageress of Wing Kit Transportation (Wing Kit), were ordered to perform 100 hours and 60 hours of community services; while Lui Wah-ming, 34, former supervisor of Wing Kit, had to perform 80 hours’ community service.
In sentencing, Shatin Court Magistrate Mr William Ng said immediate custodial sentences were imposed on Tam and Chong as their conduct constituted a breach of trust and the bribery scheme had been in operation for a prolonged period.
The judge added that the other three defendants played a lesser role in the bribery scam.
The five earlier pleaded guilty to a total of eight corruption offences.
Two others - Chan Suk-ha, 33, proprietor of Hing Chau Transportation, and Ng Kwok-leung, 29, transportation worker of Wing Kit - were charged in connection with this case.
Chan was today found guilty of two counts of offering advantages, and will be sentenced on October 30 this year.
Ng pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to solicit and offer advantages, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in November last year.
The court heard that lorries and container trucks frequently went in and out of ATL warehouses at Kwai Chung Container Terminal for loading or unloading goods.
Because of the busy traffic, lorry drivers might be required to queue up for hours before they could carry out their loading or unloading.
ATL employed patrol officers to maintain smooth traffic and monitor security and safety.
The court was told that through the introduction of Ng, patrol officer Tam had agreed to accept a monthly bribe of $15,000 from an undercover ICAC officer, Mr Ma, to help Mr Ma jump queues.
Tam also accepted $20,000 in total from Wing Kit, and agreed to receive a monthly payment of $3,000 from Chan for the same reason.
Sze, Lui Kwai-chi and Lui Wah-ming had offered a monthly payment of about $10,000 to Tam.
Another patrol officer Chong had accepted $6,000 in total from Tam, and agreed to receive a monthly payment of $3,000 from the owners of another firm - Hung Fai Transportation Company.
Chan had offered Tam $5,000 and agreed to give him a monthly payment of $3,000.
The offences took place between August 1997 and March last year.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Frankie Liu.