Two LCSD curators and four others netted for alleged bribery and misconduct offences in respect of $4m excavation contracts
2002-4-25
The ICAC has arrested six persons, including a Chief Curator and a Curator of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), for alleged bribery and abuse of authority in relation to over $4 million excavation contracts.
The other persons arrested in an operation codenamed " Greendike ", which commenced on Tuesday (April 23), were a proprietor of a private company which specialised in archaeological works and his three employees.
Under the existing policy, any building sites in the territory pending development which fall on a known archaeological area should be first surveyed by the LCSD's Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) for potential archaeological finds.
The excavation works are carried out by qualified archaeological contractors under the AMO's supervision.
The investigation arose from a complaint, alleging that AMO staff had corruptly assisted a private company in securing excavation contracts.
Allegedly, the Chief Curator and the Curator had accepted advantages, including free meals, air tickets and hotel accommodation in the Mainland, from the proprietor.
In return, the proprietor was allegedly awarded with over $4 million worth of excavation contracts in the name of his and his employees between October 1999 and January 2002, although they were not qualified archaeological contractors.
The Curator was also alleged to have assisted the proprietor in making false claims on archaeological projects, and financed the proprietor to carry out the contracts from AMO.
LCSD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC in its investigations.
All the arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.
The other persons arrested in an operation codenamed " Greendike ", which commenced on Tuesday (April 23), were a proprietor of a private company which specialised in archaeological works and his three employees.
Under the existing policy, any building sites in the territory pending development which fall on a known archaeological area should be first surveyed by the LCSD's Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) for potential archaeological finds.
The excavation works are carried out by qualified archaeological contractors under the AMO's supervision.
The investigation arose from a complaint, alleging that AMO staff had corruptly assisted a private company in securing excavation contracts.
Allegedly, the Chief Curator and the Curator had accepted advantages, including free meals, air tickets and hotel accommodation in the Mainland, from the proprietor.
In return, the proprietor was allegedly awarded with over $4 million worth of excavation contracts in the name of his and his employees between October 1999 and January 2002, although they were not qualified archaeological contractors.
The Curator was also alleged to have assisted the proprietor in making false claims on archaeological projects, and financed the proprietor to carry out the contracts from AMO.
LCSD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC in its investigations.
All the arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Enquiries are continuing.