21 months' jail for foreman in Tung Chung piling scam
2001-3-20
An employee of the piling contractor for a public housing construction project in Tung Chung was jailed for 21 months today (Tuesday) for his involvement in a short-piling scam.
Seven blocks of public housing and Home Ownership Scheme estates, comprising a total of 3,677 residential units, were constructed at Tung Chung Area 30 Phases 1 and 3.
Chan Shing, 54, Senior Rigger Foreman of Hsin Chong (Foundations) Limited (Hsin Chong), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud HD between September 1997 and July 1998.
He was accused of conspiring with Hsin Chong Project Engineer, Yeung Chung-lai, and others to construct bored piles at Tung Chung Area 30 Phase 1 not in accordance with the specifications required.
It was indicated in Chan's mitigation that he would assist the ICAC in its on-going investigation and would give evidence for the prosecution if required.
The court heard that Chan, Yeung and others had falsely represented that certain large diameter bored piles were constructed to the proposed founding levels and caused the Housing Department to pay for work that had not been done as represented.
The court also heard that the defendant had encountered difficulties in drilling through hard bedrock. After failing to reach the agreed founding level, the defendant discussed the matter with Yeung Chung-lai.
The defendant subsequently cut short the measuring tape to deceive the Housing Department as regards to the actual depth of bored holes.
The court heard that 34 out of the 84 bored piles in Phase 1 were not constructed up to the prescribed depths. Seven of them were 1.04 meters to 1.99 meters shorter than reported.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint alleging that some Housing Department staff might have accepted bribes to cover up the scam. So far, the investigation has not revealed evidence of corruption against Housing Department staff.
Another Senior Rigger Foreman of Hsin Chong, Yeung Wing-keung, also charged in connection with the investigation, will face trial in May this year.
The prosecution was today represented by Walter Lau on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Mike Chan.
Seven blocks of public housing and Home Ownership Scheme estates, comprising a total of 3,677 residential units, were constructed at Tung Chung Area 30 Phases 1 and 3.
Chan Shing, 54, Senior Rigger Foreman of Hsin Chong (Foundations) Limited (Hsin Chong), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud HD between September 1997 and July 1998.
He was accused of conspiring with Hsin Chong Project Engineer, Yeung Chung-lai, and others to construct bored piles at Tung Chung Area 30 Phase 1 not in accordance with the specifications required.
It was indicated in Chan's mitigation that he would assist the ICAC in its on-going investigation and would give evidence for the prosecution if required.
The court heard that Chan, Yeung and others had falsely represented that certain large diameter bored piles were constructed to the proposed founding levels and caused the Housing Department to pay for work that had not been done as represented.
The court also heard that the defendant had encountered difficulties in drilling through hard bedrock. After failing to reach the agreed founding level, the defendant discussed the matter with Yeung Chung-lai.
The defendant subsequently cut short the measuring tape to deceive the Housing Department as regards to the actual depth of bored holes.
The court heard that 34 out of the 84 bored piles in Phase 1 were not constructed up to the prescribed depths. Seven of them were 1.04 meters to 1.99 meters shorter than reported.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint alleging that some Housing Department staff might have accepted bribes to cover up the scam. So far, the investigation has not revealed evidence of corruption against Housing Department staff.
Another Senior Rigger Foreman of Hsin Chong, Yeung Wing-keung, also charged in connection with the investigation, will face trial in May this year.
The prosecution was today represented by Walter Lau on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Mike Chan.