A self-employed decorator was sentenced to five months' imprisonment at Kwun Tong Court today (Monday) for offering about $300,000 in bribes to a chairman of an owners’ corporation in return for a multi-million renovation contract.

Pang Wai-ying, 44, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of, together with his business partner Wong Kam-hung, offering an advantage to Ip Yiu-woon, chairman of the On Lok Garden Mansion (On Lok Garden) Owners Incorporation.

The advantage was for Ip to award a $2,390,750 renovation contract of the building to Duk Construction Company Limited (Duk Construction).

The advantage was said to be one third of the profits to be derived from the contract.

The offence took place between September 1996 and February 1997.

The court heard that in September 1996, Ip approached the defendant to discuss the awarding of a renovation contract of On Lok Garden Mansion in Kwun Tong, worth $2,390,750.

Ip requested to share one third of the total net profit if Pang was granted the contract. Pang agreed.

Upon Ip's instructions, the defendant hired Duk Construction to submit a tender prepared by Ip.

With Ip's assistance, the contract was eventually awarded to Duk Construction, which sub-contacted the project to the defendant and Wong.

The net profit arising from the project, which was completed in December 1996, amounted to $882,198.

As agreed, the defendant gave Ip $294,066, being one third of the net profit as a reward.

The ICAC's investigation into the case is on-going.

The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Chiu Wai-tin, assisted by ICAC officer Stewart Chan.