Last defendant sentenced in cargo terminal 'queue jumping' bribery case
2000-10-30
The last defendant charged by the ICAC for a bribery scam in connection with cargo handling at Kwai Chung Container Terminal was sentenced at Shatin Court today (Monday).
Chan Suk-ha, 33, proprietor of Hing Chau Transportation Company (Hing Chau), was earlier found guilty of two counts of offering advantages. She was today ordered by Magistrate Mr William Ng to perform 120 hours of community service.
The ICAC's corruption investigation into "queue jumping" allegations at the terminal had resulted in the prosecution of seven persons, including Chan.
The other six were two patrol officers of Asia Terminals Ltd. (ATL) and a proprietor, a manageress, a supervisor and a transportation worker of Wing Kit Transportation Company.
They all pleaded guilty earlier to having offered or accepted bribes for helping some lorries jump the queue while awaiting their turns to load or unload cargoes at the terminal.
The two patrol officers and the transportation worker were give jail terms of three to 10 months, while the remaining three defendants were ordered to perform community service ranging from 60 to 100 hours.
The court heard that because of the busy traffic, lorry drivers of transportation companies were very often required to queue up for hours at the terminal.
ATL employed a number of patrol officers to maintain smooth traffic and monitor security and safety.
The court was told that Chan had offered $5,000 to Tam Chak-lin, one of ATL patrol officers, and agreed to give him a monthly payment of $3,000 between July 9, 1997 and March 25 last year.
The bribes were for Tam to show favour to lorry drivers of Hing Chau by expediting the loading or unloading of goods at ATL.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Frankie Liu.
Chan Suk-ha, 33, proprietor of Hing Chau Transportation Company (Hing Chau), was earlier found guilty of two counts of offering advantages. She was today ordered by Magistrate Mr William Ng to perform 120 hours of community service.
The ICAC's corruption investigation into "queue jumping" allegations at the terminal had resulted in the prosecution of seven persons, including Chan.
The other six were two patrol officers of Asia Terminals Ltd. (ATL) and a proprietor, a manageress, a supervisor and a transportation worker of Wing Kit Transportation Company.
They all pleaded guilty earlier to having offered or accepted bribes for helping some lorries jump the queue while awaiting their turns to load or unload cargoes at the terminal.
The two patrol officers and the transportation worker were give jail terms of three to 10 months, while the remaining three defendants were ordered to perform community service ranging from 60 to 100 hours.
The court heard that because of the busy traffic, lorry drivers of transportation companies were very often required to queue up for hours at the terminal.
ATL employed a number of patrol officers to maintain smooth traffic and monitor security and safety.
The court was told that Chan had offered $5,000 to Tam Chak-lin, one of ATL patrol officers, and agreed to give him a monthly payment of $3,000 between July 9, 1997 and March 25 last year.
The bribes were for Tam to show favour to lorry drivers of Hing Chau by expediting the loading or unloading of goods at ATL.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Frankie Liu.