Twelve face court for alleged $3m market stall scam
2000-11-27
Twelve persons, charged by the ICAC for an alleged $3 million scam involving illegal transfer of market stall operating rights from lawful tenants who had surrendered their Itinerant Hawker Licence (IHL) to the then Urban Services Department (USD), appear ed in court today (Monday).
The defendants were : Chan Shu-hung, 48, businessman, and his wife Sze Yuen-nau, 32, unemployed; and Ip Kwan, 63; Kwok Tai-mei, 58; Wong Shiu-fong, 69; Li Yiu-chiu, 60; Poon Wan-wah, 69; Lau Chui-mui, 63; Kam Cheung-ting, 69; Wong Shou-ling, 66; Lee Yuk-l in, 66; and Tang Oi-chun, 69, all unemployed.
They faced a total of 20 charges of conspiracy to defraud the Hong Kong Government between 1993 and 1999; while Chan was further charged with one count of perverting the course of public justice.
The twelve appeared at five different magistracies in separate cases.
The ICAC commenced investigation after receiving a complaint alleging that some USD officers might have corruptly approved market stall tenancy.
The corruption allegation against government officers was subsequently found to be unsubstantiated.
Under the IHL scheme, hawkers could either surrender their licences for a payment of $30,000, or they could select a vacant fixed pitch stall. The options are not transferable.
ICAC investigation revealed that Chan Shu-hung and Sze Yuen-nau, who were allegedly at the centre of the scam, had purchased from the remaining defendants their market stalls at $50,000 to $120,000 each.
The couple then allegedly sublet the stalls to make profits without the knowledge of USD.
It was suspected that between 1993 and 1999, the couple had gained control of 15 market stalls at various markets throughout the territory, and had made about $3 million in illegal profits.
Four of the defendants, Yip Kwan, Kwok Tai-mei, Wong Shiu-fong and Poon Wan-wah today pleaded guilty.
Yip, Kwok and Wong will be sentenced on December 18, 2000; while Poon was today sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was fined $2,000.
The charges accused the defendants of dishonestly deceiving officers of the then USD to grant various persons market stall tenancy, by concealing the fact that they had sold their rights to carry out business at the respectively stalls to others.
The remaining defendants pleaded not guilty. Chan Shu-hung and Sze Yuen-nau had their cases adjourned to December 11, 2000 for pre-trial review.
Kam Cheung-ting, Lau Chui-mui, Lee Yuk-lin and Wong Shou-ling will appear in court on December 18, 2000 for pre-trial review; while Li Yiu-chui had his case adjourned to December 27, 2000.
No plea was taken from Tan Oi-chun. The case was adjourned to December 4, 2000 for mention.
All defendants were granted cash bail.
The defendants were : Chan Shu-hung, 48, businessman, and his wife Sze Yuen-nau, 32, unemployed; and Ip Kwan, 63; Kwok Tai-mei, 58; Wong Shiu-fong, 69; Li Yiu-chiu, 60; Poon Wan-wah, 69; Lau Chui-mui, 63; Kam Cheung-ting, 69; Wong Shou-ling, 66; Lee Yuk-l in, 66; and Tang Oi-chun, 69, all unemployed.
They faced a total of 20 charges of conspiracy to defraud the Hong Kong Government between 1993 and 1999; while Chan was further charged with one count of perverting the course of public justice.
The twelve appeared at five different magistracies in separate cases.
The ICAC commenced investigation after receiving a complaint alleging that some USD officers might have corruptly approved market stall tenancy.
The corruption allegation against government officers was subsequently found to be unsubstantiated.
Under the IHL scheme, hawkers could either surrender their licences for a payment of $30,000, or they could select a vacant fixed pitch stall. The options are not transferable.
ICAC investigation revealed that Chan Shu-hung and Sze Yuen-nau, who were allegedly at the centre of the scam, had purchased from the remaining defendants their market stalls at $50,000 to $120,000 each.
The couple then allegedly sublet the stalls to make profits without the knowledge of USD.
It was suspected that between 1993 and 1999, the couple had gained control of 15 market stalls at various markets throughout the territory, and had made about $3 million in illegal profits.
Four of the defendants, Yip Kwan, Kwok Tai-mei, Wong Shiu-fong and Poon Wan-wah today pleaded guilty.
Yip, Kwok and Wong will be sentenced on December 18, 2000; while Poon was today sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was fined $2,000.
The charges accused the defendants of dishonestly deceiving officers of the then USD to grant various persons market stall tenancy, by concealing the fact that they had sold their rights to carry out business at the respectively stalls to others.
The remaining defendants pleaded not guilty. Chan Shu-hung and Sze Yuen-nau had their cases adjourned to December 11, 2000 for pre-trial review.
Kam Cheung-ting, Lau Chui-mui, Lee Yuk-lin and Wong Shou-ling will appear in court on December 18, 2000 for pre-trial review; while Li Yiu-chui had his case adjourned to December 27, 2000.
No plea was taken from Tan Oi-chun. The case was adjourned to December 4, 2000 for mention.
All defendants were granted cash bail.