Trio guilty of fraud over $35m HKU project
2003-1-29
Two directors and a financial controller of an audio and visual company were today (Wednesday) convicted at District Court of conspiring to defraud the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in relation to the tendering of a $35 million project for the New Medical Complex of HKU.
Clara Chan Lai-wah, 33, and Tony Luk Wing-chi, 39, both directors and shareholders of In-Concept International Limited (In-Concept), and Marshall Ng Wai-sang, 39, financial controller of In-Concept, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud HKU.
Deputy Judge Pang Chung-ping adjourned the case until February 18, 2003 for sentence, pending background and community service order reports.
The defendants were granted cash bail ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, and report to the police three times a week.
The court heard that in 1997, HKU began to build a New Medical Complex at Sassoon Road in Pokfulam. The construction of the complex was completed in early 2001.
In-Concept and another company, Media-Go Engineering Company Limited (Media-Go), were shortlisted to submit formal tenders for the design, supply and installation of audio visual facilities for the complex.
On July 18, 2001, Chan offered to Media-Go a $200,000 "consultancy fee" plus a $5 million purchase order for audio visual equipment in return for Media-Go to withdraw its tender.
A corruption complaint was made to the ICAC, alleging a company of offering a bribe to obtain the contract.
The court heard that Chan had suggested that Media-Go inflate its tendering price in order to ensure that In-Concept could secure the contract.
Luk and Ng met a shareholder and a director of Media-Go at a hotel in Mongkok, where Luk gave the director of Media-Go $50,000 being the initial payment of the "consultancy fee", as well as a set of draft tender documents and a floppy disk for him to fill in the relevant information.
In August 2001, In-Concept and Media-Go submitted their respective tenders of about $35 million and $39 million to the Tenders Board of HKU. As a result, In-Concept was awarded the contract.
The court heard that Chan told the shareholder of Media-Go that In-Concept would honour its promise by paying the remaining $150,000 and purchasing audio visual equipment from Media-Go.
HKU rendered full assistance and cooperation to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Susanna Ku on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Andrew Chan.
Clara Chan Lai-wah, 33, and Tony Luk Wing-chi, 39, both directors and shareholders of In-Concept International Limited (In-Concept), and Marshall Ng Wai-sang, 39, financial controller of In-Concept, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud HKU.
Deputy Judge Pang Chung-ping adjourned the case until February 18, 2003 for sentence, pending background and community service order reports.
The defendants were granted cash bail ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. They were also ordered to surrender their travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong, and report to the police three times a week.
The court heard that in 1997, HKU began to build a New Medical Complex at Sassoon Road in Pokfulam. The construction of the complex was completed in early 2001.
In-Concept and another company, Media-Go Engineering Company Limited (Media-Go), were shortlisted to submit formal tenders for the design, supply and installation of audio visual facilities for the complex.
On July 18, 2001, Chan offered to Media-Go a $200,000 "consultancy fee" plus a $5 million purchase order for audio visual equipment in return for Media-Go to withdraw its tender.
A corruption complaint was made to the ICAC, alleging a company of offering a bribe to obtain the contract.
The court heard that Chan had suggested that Media-Go inflate its tendering price in order to ensure that In-Concept could secure the contract.
Luk and Ng met a shareholder and a director of Media-Go at a hotel in Mongkok, where Luk gave the director of Media-Go $50,000 being the initial payment of the "consultancy fee", as well as a set of draft tender documents and a floppy disk for him to fill in the relevant information.
In August 2001, In-Concept and Media-Go submitted their respective tenders of about $35 million and $39 million to the Tenders Board of HKU. As a result, In-Concept was awarded the contract.
The court heard that Chan told the shareholder of Media-Go that In-Concept would honour its promise by paying the remaining $150,000 and purchasing audio visual equipment from Media-Go.
HKU rendered full assistance and cooperation to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Susanna Ku on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Andrew Chan.