Ex-airline staff jailed for accepting bribes for reserving cargo space
2003-2-21
A former employee of an airline company, charged by the ICAC, was today (Friday) jailed for two years and eight months at District Court for accepting bribe payments totalling $340,000 for reserving cargo space on aircraft.
Cheng Chong-shing, 41, former senior freight officer of Qantas Freight Hong Kong affiliated with Qantas Airways Limited, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of accepting an advantage, two of conspiracy to accept advantages, and one of conspiracy to use a document with intent to deceive his principal.
The court ordered four other corruption charges and another conspiracy charge be left on file.
Judge Fergal Sweeney reprimanded the defendant for his greediness, adding that he had taken into account the defendant's guilty plea and his background report in sentencing.
The court heard that while employed by Qantas Freight, Cheng was responsible for handling freight reservation by forwarding companies.
In July 1997, Columbus Express Hong Kong Limited (Columbus Express) bought cargo space from Qantas Freight via Keen Shing Shipping Limited (Keen Shing).
Keen Shing offered Cheng 40 per cent of its marginal profit, with a view to securing steady cargo space for Columbus Express.
On two occasions between September and October 1997, Cheng had accepted a sum of $2,000 to $3,000 and another sum of $8,000 from Keen Shing as rewards for showing favour to Keen Shing in reserving cargo space.
Since April 1999, Columbus Express started to buy cargo space from Qantas Freight direct.
A staff member of Columbus Express offered to pay Cheng a monthly payment for being allotted extra cargo space.
Cheng agreed to the deal. Since June 1999, a monthly sum of $8,000, which was later increased to $10,000 upon the defendant's request, was deposited into Cheng's bank account.
Between June 1999 and May 2002, Cheng had accepted bribe payments totalling $330,000 from Columbus Express.
The court also heard that Cheng had conspired with the staff member of Columbus Express to use a false invoice relating to the charging rate on cargo delivered, with intent to mislead Qantas Airways. As a result, Qantas Airways suffered a loss of $55,284 in total.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Calvin Wong.
Cheng Chong-shing, 41, former senior freight officer of Qantas Freight Hong Kong affiliated with Qantas Airways Limited, earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of accepting an advantage, two of conspiracy to accept advantages, and one of conspiracy to use a document with intent to deceive his principal.
The court ordered four other corruption charges and another conspiracy charge be left on file.
Judge Fergal Sweeney reprimanded the defendant for his greediness, adding that he had taken into account the defendant's guilty plea and his background report in sentencing.
The court heard that while employed by Qantas Freight, Cheng was responsible for handling freight reservation by forwarding companies.
In July 1997, Columbus Express Hong Kong Limited (Columbus Express) bought cargo space from Qantas Freight via Keen Shing Shipping Limited (Keen Shing).
Keen Shing offered Cheng 40 per cent of its marginal profit, with a view to securing steady cargo space for Columbus Express.
On two occasions between September and October 1997, Cheng had accepted a sum of $2,000 to $3,000 and another sum of $8,000 from Keen Shing as rewards for showing favour to Keen Shing in reserving cargo space.
Since April 1999, Columbus Express started to buy cargo space from Qantas Freight direct.
A staff member of Columbus Express offered to pay Cheng a monthly payment for being allotted extra cargo space.
Cheng agreed to the deal. Since June 1999, a monthly sum of $8,000, which was later increased to $10,000 upon the defendant's request, was deposited into Cheng's bank account.
Between June 1999 and May 2002, Cheng had accepted bribe payments totalling $330,000 from Columbus Express.
The court also heard that Cheng had conspired with the staff member of Columbus Express to use a false invoice relating to the charging rate on cargo delivered, with intent to mislead Qantas Airways. As a result, Qantas Airways suffered a loss of $55,284 in total.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Calvin Wong.