Two former engineering staff, who were earlier arrested by the ICAC in connection with their alleged involvement in substandard works at a site formation project in Sau Mau Ping, have been charged today (Wednesday).

Law Kui-cheung, 26, and Poon Lai-kit, 24, respectively former graduate engineer and former apprentice of Zen Pacific Construction Limited, will appear at Kwun Tong Court at 9:30 am tomorrow (Thursday) on one charge of conspiracy to defraud.

The ICAC had received a complaint alleging that inferior materials were used in a government platform formation project at Po Lam Road, Sau Mau Ping and that corruption might be involved in covering up the inadequate works.

On April 27, 1998, a portion of a fill slope, which formed part of the site formation for housing project, collapsed after a heavy downpour and caused a temporary blockage of Sau Mau Ping Road.

ICAC investigations revealed that the landslide was allegedly caused by the use of insufficient or substandard reinforcing materials. Some of the construction works had not conformed to the design plan.

The defendants, currently on ICAC bail, were among five persons arrested in an operation last year.

The pair were alleged of having conspired with Chan Kam-wah, Sin Chi-Kong and others to defraud the Hong Kong Civil Engineering Department (CED) between January and December 1997 by:

- falsely representing that the work relating to the upgrading of two existing slopes at the site of formation of Po Lam Road Platform used fill material in accordance with specifications;

- substituting the fill material samples taken from the designated locations at the site with other samples;

- submitting the other samples for testing; and

- causing the CED to pay for work that was not done properly.