Trio arrested for allegedly offering bribes to rival bidder to secure $35m HKU project
2001-10-3
The ICAC has arrested two senior executives of an audio and visual company and a partner of an accounting firm for allegedly offering $200,000 and a $5 million subcontract to a rival bidder in order to secure a contract for a project from the University o f Hong Kong (HKU).
The $35 million project concerned the installation of audio and visual equipment at the New Medical Complex of HKU.
The alleged bribes, including $200,000 cash plus a tentative purchase order for $5 million worth of audio and visual equipment, were said to be rewards for the rival bidder to inflate its tendering price for the HKU project by 10 per cent in order to ensu re that the arrestees would win the contract.
The suspects arrested in an operation codenamed “ Moss ” last Thursday (September 27) were two directors and the financial adviser of the audio and visual company.
The investigation originated from a corruption complaint, alleging that the two directors of the audio and visual company had corruptly obtained confidential tendering information in relation to the HKU project.
Enquiries revealed that an initial payment of $50,000 in cash and the tentative purchase order had been given to the rival bidder at a hotel coffee shop.
It was also revealed that the audio and visual company was the lowest bidder.
HKU rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestees have been released on bail, pending further enquiries.
The $35 million project concerned the installation of audio and visual equipment at the New Medical Complex of HKU.
The alleged bribes, including $200,000 cash plus a tentative purchase order for $5 million worth of audio and visual equipment, were said to be rewards for the rival bidder to inflate its tendering price for the HKU project by 10 per cent in order to ensu re that the arrestees would win the contract.
The suspects arrested in an operation codenamed “ Moss ” last Thursday (September 27) were two directors and the financial adviser of the audio and visual company.
The investigation originated from a corruption complaint, alleging that the two directors of the audio and visual company had corruptly obtained confidential tendering information in relation to the HKU project.
Enquiries revealed that an initial payment of $50,000 in cash and the tentative purchase order had been given to the rival bidder at a hotel coffee shop.
It was also revealed that the audio and visual company was the lowest bidder.
HKU rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The arrestees have been released on bail, pending further enquiries.