Foreman admits soliciting and accepting 'tea money' for delivery of construction materials
2001-5-28
A mechanical foreman today (Monday) admitted having solicited "tea money" of $80,000 and accepted $20,000 as rewards for facilitating the delivery of construction materials at a private construction site in Siu Sai Wan.
Wong Wai-to, 41, mechanical foreman of China Overseas Machinery Limited (China Overseas), pleaded guilty at District Court to one count of soliciting an advantage and one count of accepting an advantage.
Judge Ian Candy adjourned sentencing until June 11, 2001, pending a background report, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
China Overseas was a subsidiary of China State Construction (Hong Kong) Limited (China State), the main contractor for the construction of eight residential blocks at Island Resort (the site) in Siu Wai Wan.
The court heard that Wong, who was posted to China Overseas' mechanical section since the end of 1998, was responsible for supervising the operation of hoisters at the site.
Wong Shui-lun was a subcontractor for the transportation of construction materials and her workers had to make use of the hoisters under Wong Wai-to's control to transport building materials to the upper floors of the buildings at the site.
On July 16 last year, the subcontractor's workers had encountered difficulty in carrying out their work as Wong Wai-to's subordinates did not co-operate.
Two weeks later, the defendant hinted to the subcontractor on the phone that the problem could be resolved if she paid "tea money".
After making a report to the ICAC, the subcontractor had a monitored telephone conversation with the defendant on September 4 last year.
During the conversation, the defendant solicited from the subcontractor $80,000 as "tea money", being $10,000 for each of the eight blocks at the site.
On October 3 last year, the subcontractor had a monitored meeting with the defendant outside the site.
After taking $20,000 marked money from the subcontractor, the defendant was arrested by ICAC officers at the scene.
Both China State and China Overseas prohibit their employees from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to their official duties.
The prosecution was today represented by Lui Kit-ling on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Henry So.
Wong Wai-to, 41, mechanical foreman of China Overseas Machinery Limited (China Overseas), pleaded guilty at District Court to one count of soliciting an advantage and one count of accepting an advantage.
Judge Ian Candy adjourned sentencing until June 11, 2001, pending a background report, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
China Overseas was a subsidiary of China State Construction (Hong Kong) Limited (China State), the main contractor for the construction of eight residential blocks at Island Resort (the site) in Siu Wai Wan.
The court heard that Wong, who was posted to China Overseas' mechanical section since the end of 1998, was responsible for supervising the operation of hoisters at the site.
Wong Shui-lun was a subcontractor for the transportation of construction materials and her workers had to make use of the hoisters under Wong Wai-to's control to transport building materials to the upper floors of the buildings at the site.
On July 16 last year, the subcontractor's workers had encountered difficulty in carrying out their work as Wong Wai-to's subordinates did not co-operate.
Two weeks later, the defendant hinted to the subcontractor on the phone that the problem could be resolved if she paid "tea money".
After making a report to the ICAC, the subcontractor had a monitored telephone conversation with the defendant on September 4 last year.
During the conversation, the defendant solicited from the subcontractor $80,000 as "tea money", being $10,000 for each of the eight blocks at the site.
On October 3 last year, the subcontractor had a monitored meeting with the defendant outside the site.
After taking $20,000 marked money from the subcontractor, the defendant was arrested by ICAC officers at the scene.
Both China State and China Overseas prohibit their employees from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to their official duties.
The prosecution was today represented by Lui Kit-ling on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Henry So.