Five ex-airline catering staff jailed for taking $150,000 in bribes to steal newspapers from incoming flights
2001-7-3
Five former catering coordinators of Cathay Pacific Catering Services (H.K.) Limited (Cathay Catering) were today (Tuesday) sentenced to jail terms ranging from four months to eight months at Tsuen Wan Court for accepting a total of $151,800 to steal fore ign newspapers from incoming flights for sale to newstands in Central and Admiralty.
Cathay Catering, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Cathay Airways), provides catering service to Cathay Airways' flights in Hong Kong.
Cheung Yiu-yuen, 29, Cheung Chi-kin, 26, Lo Kwun, 28; were each jailed for eight months and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution, while Choy Kim-lung, 31, and Lee Chi-kin, 45, were each sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
The five defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of 10 corruption charges.
Magistrate Ms Kelly Shui said immediate custodial sentences were imposed so as to maintain Hong Kong’s probity.
Cathay Catering purchased newspapers daily from overseas countries to serve passengers.
Cathay Catering staff were not allowed to take away any properties, including copies of these newspapers, read or unread by passengers, for personal uses.
The court heard that Cheung Yiu-yuen had conspired to accept $400 every three to four days and $1,600 a week, and $200 to $600 a week from Li Shu-man and Lo, in return for stealing foreign newspapers from Cathay Catering and delivering the newspapers to t hem.
Cheung Yiu-yuen had also conspired to offer a monthly payment of $1,000 to Choy and Lee as a reward for stealing foreign newspapers and supplying them to Cheung Yiu-yuen and Cheung Chi-kin.
Cheung Chi-kin had conspired to accept $80 to $90 a day, a weekly payment of $1,600 and $200 for stealing foreign newspapers and supplying them to Li and Lo.
Lo, Choy and Lee had accepted a monthly payment of $1,200 to $3,000, $700 to $1,100, and $1,300 respectively for the same reason.
The court heard that between September 1997 and March last year, the defendants had accepted a total of $151,800 in bribes to facilitate the newspaper theft.
Li Shu-mau operated three staff canteens inside the restricted area of the Hong Kong International Airport, and was engaged in supplying foreign newspapers to retailers in Central and Admiralty.
Li, 48, who earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to offer advantages and one of conspiracy to steal, today applied for reversing his guilty plea. His application is set for hearing on July 27 this year.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Christal Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Kevin Cho.
Cathay Catering, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (Cathay Airways), provides catering service to Cathay Airways' flights in Hong Kong.
Cheung Yiu-yuen, 29, Cheung Chi-kin, 26, Lo Kwun, 28; were each jailed for eight months and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution, while Choy Kim-lung, 31, and Lee Chi-kin, 45, were each sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
The five defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of 10 corruption charges.
Magistrate Ms Kelly Shui said immediate custodial sentences were imposed so as to maintain Hong Kong’s probity.
Cathay Catering purchased newspapers daily from overseas countries to serve passengers.
Cathay Catering staff were not allowed to take away any properties, including copies of these newspapers, read or unread by passengers, for personal uses.
The court heard that Cheung Yiu-yuen had conspired to accept $400 every three to four days and $1,600 a week, and $200 to $600 a week from Li Shu-man and Lo, in return for stealing foreign newspapers from Cathay Catering and delivering the newspapers to t hem.
Cheung Yiu-yuen had also conspired to offer a monthly payment of $1,000 to Choy and Lee as a reward for stealing foreign newspapers and supplying them to Cheung Yiu-yuen and Cheung Chi-kin.
Cheung Chi-kin had conspired to accept $80 to $90 a day, a weekly payment of $1,600 and $200 for stealing foreign newspapers and supplying them to Li and Lo.
Lo, Choy and Lee had accepted a monthly payment of $1,200 to $3,000, $700 to $1,100, and $1,300 respectively for the same reason.
The court heard that between September 1997 and March last year, the defendants had accepted a total of $151,800 in bribes to facilitate the newspaper theft.
Li Shu-mau operated three staff canteens inside the restricted area of the Hong Kong International Airport, and was engaged in supplying foreign newspapers to retailers in Central and Admiralty.
Li, 48, who earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to offer advantages and one of conspiracy to steal, today applied for reversing his guilty plea. His application is set for hearing on July 27 this year.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Christal Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Kevin Cho.