Two FEHD foremen convicted of fraud over gully emptying work
2000-10-20
Two foremen of nightshift gully emptying teams of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) were convicted today (Friday) of defrauding the Hong Kong Government by falsifying work records.
Leung Yick-wai, 50, and Fu Chung-wing, 41, appeared at North Kowloon Court in two separate cases.
These cases originated from a referral from the then Provisional Urban Council last year. ICAC enquiries revealed no evidence of corruption, but unearthed fraudulent practices of some gully emptying teams.
Leung was found guilty of one count of conspiring with drivers Man Sai-kwong, Lee Yau-fai and Cheung Yee-kwong to defraud the Hong Kong Government between June 1, 1998 and January 26 last year, by falsely representing that gully emptying duties were carri ed out in accordance with the work procedures of the FEHD, previously known as the Urban Services Department (USD).
The court heard that there were three gully emptying teams responsible for cleansing 5,200 gullies in the Kowloon region.
Each team comprised five members - one foreman as the team leader, one special driver to operate a gully emptier, one motor driver to drive a pick-up van and two workmen to carry out the cleansing work.
They were required to use the gully emptier to collect sand and grit from gullies and unload them at the West Kowloon Refuse Transfer Station in Stonecutters Island.
At the time of the offence, Leung was in charge of one team to perform gully emptying duties.
During most duty nights, Leung idled at the Sai Yee Street Depot of the then Urban Services Department in Mong Kok.
Instead of supervising the gully cleansing work, Leung instructed the drivers to make superficial journeys unconnected with his duty, and to fill up the gully emptier with tap water.
After discharging tap water at the West Kowloon Refuse Transfer Station, the drivers made false entries on the vehicle log book.
Leung signed on the log book to certify that the records were true.
Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned sentencing on Leung until November 3 this year for sentence, pending background and community service order reports.
Fu Chung-wing pleaded guilty to one similar offence before Magistrate Mr Frankie Yiu Fun-che. He will be sentenced on November 6 this year, pending background and community service order reports.
Both Leung and Fu were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
Apart from Leung and Fu, another FEHD foreman Kwok Kam-hoi, 46, was also charged with a similar offence. Kwok earlier pleaded not guilty and the trial date is set for next Monday (October 23).
The prosecution was today represented by Cannise Chan on a fiat in both cases, assisted by ICAC officer Allen Ting.
Leung Yick-wai, 50, and Fu Chung-wing, 41, appeared at North Kowloon Court in two separate cases.
These cases originated from a referral from the then Provisional Urban Council last year. ICAC enquiries revealed no evidence of corruption, but unearthed fraudulent practices of some gully emptying teams.
Leung was found guilty of one count of conspiring with drivers Man Sai-kwong, Lee Yau-fai and Cheung Yee-kwong to defraud the Hong Kong Government between June 1, 1998 and January 26 last year, by falsely representing that gully emptying duties were carri ed out in accordance with the work procedures of the FEHD, previously known as the Urban Services Department (USD).
The court heard that there were three gully emptying teams responsible for cleansing 5,200 gullies in the Kowloon region.
Each team comprised five members - one foreman as the team leader, one special driver to operate a gully emptier, one motor driver to drive a pick-up van and two workmen to carry out the cleansing work.
They were required to use the gully emptier to collect sand and grit from gullies and unload them at the West Kowloon Refuse Transfer Station in Stonecutters Island.
At the time of the offence, Leung was in charge of one team to perform gully emptying duties.
During most duty nights, Leung idled at the Sai Yee Street Depot of the then Urban Services Department in Mong Kok.
Instead of supervising the gully cleansing work, Leung instructed the drivers to make superficial journeys unconnected with his duty, and to fill up the gully emptier with tap water.
After discharging tap water at the West Kowloon Refuse Transfer Station, the drivers made false entries on the vehicle log book.
Leung signed on the log book to certify that the records were true.
Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned sentencing on Leung until November 3 this year for sentence, pending background and community service order reports.
Fu Chung-wing pleaded guilty to one similar offence before Magistrate Mr Frankie Yiu Fun-che. He will be sentenced on November 6 this year, pending background and community service order reports.
Both Leung and Fu were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
Apart from Leung and Fu, another FEHD foreman Kwok Kam-hoi, 46, was also charged with a similar offence. Kwok earlier pleaded not guilty and the trial date is set for next Monday (October 23).
The prosecution was today represented by Cannise Chan on a fiat in both cases, assisted by ICAC officer Allen Ting.