Former security guards received bribes to smuggle $2.7m mobile phone
2002-1-23
Two former employees of a security company today (Wednesday) admitted that they had accepted bribes to help smuggle mobile phones and phone batteries worth $2.7 million to the Mainland, using the company's armoured vehicles for delivery.
Hui Ping-kee, 51 and Sze Ho-chun, 54, respectively former Security Guard and Crew Commander of Securicor HK Limited (Securicor), today pleaded guilty at the District Court to three charges of conspiracy to offer advantages and export unmanifested goods.
Judge Peter Line adjourned sentencing, pending the completion of the trial of two co-defendants. Hui and Sze were each granted bail of $20,000 in cash and were ordered not to leave Hong Kong.
Hui pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Sze, Chau Sau-kit, Chow Cho-fung and Wong Man-sau to export unmanifested goods, namely mobile phones and accessories.
Chau Sau-kit and Chow Cho-fung were respectively owner and employee of Shing Fat Trading Company, while Wong, now deceased, was a Securicor staff while the offence took place.
Hui also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Chau to offer cash payments to Hui for delivering mobile phones and accessories by an armoured vehicle of Securicor.
Sze admitted having conspired with Hui to offer cash payments to Sze for a similar reason.
The case originated from a corruption complaint, alleging that some crew members of Securicor might have bribed their crew controller for favourable postings. However, ICAC investigations later revealed the graft facilitated smuggling activities.
Hui and Sze, together with co-defendants Chau and Chow, were arrested by the ICAC during an operation on August 23, 2000, when an armoured vehicle of Securicor was intercepted at Man Kam To Control Point.
Both Hui and Sze were on duty for the company and Hui was driving the company's vehicle heading for the Mainland.
ICAC officers seized 950 mobile phones and 928 phone batteries, of an estimated value of $2.78 million, from the vehicle.
The court heard that between October 1999 and August 2000, the defendants had been helping Chau and Chow smuggle mobile phones and phone batteries across the border two to three times a week.
For each delivery, Chau gave Hui $2,000 to $5,000 as a reward, out of which $500 to $2,000 was paid to Sze for his assistance.
Chau and Chow, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, will face trial tomorrow.
The prosecution was today represented by Wong Hay-yiu on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Hong.
Hui Ping-kee, 51 and Sze Ho-chun, 54, respectively former Security Guard and Crew Commander of Securicor HK Limited (Securicor), today pleaded guilty at the District Court to three charges of conspiracy to offer advantages and export unmanifested goods.
Judge Peter Line adjourned sentencing, pending the completion of the trial of two co-defendants. Hui and Sze were each granted bail of $20,000 in cash and were ordered not to leave Hong Kong.
Hui pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Sze, Chau Sau-kit, Chow Cho-fung and Wong Man-sau to export unmanifested goods, namely mobile phones and accessories.
Chau Sau-kit and Chow Cho-fung were respectively owner and employee of Shing Fat Trading Company, while Wong, now deceased, was a Securicor staff while the offence took place.
Hui also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with Chau to offer cash payments to Hui for delivering mobile phones and accessories by an armoured vehicle of Securicor.
Sze admitted having conspired with Hui to offer cash payments to Sze for a similar reason.
The case originated from a corruption complaint, alleging that some crew members of Securicor might have bribed their crew controller for favourable postings. However, ICAC investigations later revealed the graft facilitated smuggling activities.
Hui and Sze, together with co-defendants Chau and Chow, were arrested by the ICAC during an operation on August 23, 2000, when an armoured vehicle of Securicor was intercepted at Man Kam To Control Point.
Both Hui and Sze were on duty for the company and Hui was driving the company's vehicle heading for the Mainland.
ICAC officers seized 950 mobile phones and 928 phone batteries, of an estimated value of $2.78 million, from the vehicle.
The court heard that between October 1999 and August 2000, the defendants had been helping Chau and Chow smuggle mobile phones and phone batteries across the border two to three times a week.
For each delivery, Chau gave Hui $2,000 to $5,000 as a reward, out of which $500 to $2,000 was paid to Sze for his assistance.
Chau and Chow, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, will face trial tomorrow.
The prosecution was today represented by Wong Hay-yiu on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Hong.