A former electrical and maintenance officer of Giordano Limited was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment at District Court today (Thursday) for embezzling over $110,000 from his former employer with inflated invoices.

Ko Tat-choi, 56, earlier pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft.

Judge Wright said an immediate custodial sentence was imposed since the offences committed by the defendant were well planned, lasted for a long time and constituted a breach of trust.

The judge said he had taken into account the defendant's guilty plea and clear records in sentencing.

The case originated from a corruption complaint, alleging the defendant of taking illegal kickbacks from air-conditioning and maintenance contractors.

ICAC enquiries revealed the defendant was involved in embezzlement.

The court heard that while employed by Giordano, Ko placed orders with various suppliers for lighting accessories and general maintenance on behalf of the company.

When the goods were delivered to Giordano's retail shops, Ko or his staff acknowledged and kept the invoices.

Ko then obtained inflated invoices from Gar Woo Engineering and Material Supply Company (Gar Woo), a company set up by him, and handed them to the accounts department of Giordano.

The accounts department subsequently issued cheques totalling $772,894 to Gar Woo for the inflated invoices.

Gar Woo paid the real suppliers and kept the difference of $113,219 in total, which was subsequently pocketed by the defendant.

The offences took place between October 1992 and January 1997.

The prosecution was today represented by Nicholas Adams on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Frankie Yuen.