LCSD officer and two others jailed for fraud over tenders for gardening supplies
2003-3-5
The Eastern Magistracy today (Wednesday) meted out jail terms to an officer of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and two company proprietors for defrauding the government in relation to tenders for gardening supplies for the Eastern Dist rict.
Li Kwok-keung, 46, Amenities Officer II of LCSD, received an eight-month jail term. Co-defendants, Li Kwok-ki, 42, and Lau Man-yee, 36, both proprietors of five companies in trading or engineering business, were respectively jailed for eight months and 2 4 weeks.
Li Kwok-ki and Lau Man-yee earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, while Li Kwok-keung was found guilty of the same offence after trial.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr William Ng said the fraud, of which Li Kwok-ki was the mastermind, had undermined public confidence in the government tendering system.
The magistrate also remarked that being a civil servant, Li Kwok-keung breached the trust the government placed on him.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that Li Kwok-keung might have accepted advantages for releasing confidential tendering information. ICAC enquiries revealed the offence of conspiracy to defraud.
At the time of the offence, Li Kwok-keung was responsible for procuring gardening products on behalf of the then Urban Services Department (USD), whose functions were subsequently taken up by LCSD since January 2001.
The court heard that between March 1, 1999 and April 30, 2000, the defendants had conspired to defraud the government by dishonestly causing:
- Li Kwok-keung to invite quotations for the supply of gardening products from the five companies controlled by Li Kwok-ki and Lau Man-yee;
- Li Kwok-ki and Lau Man-yee to submit sham quotations; and
- the then USD and LCSD to award over $130,000 worth of contracts for the procurement of gardening products to one of the five companies.
Such products included fencing and other accessories.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Simon Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Edward So.
Li Kwok-keung, 46, Amenities Officer II of LCSD, received an eight-month jail term. Co-defendants, Li Kwok-ki, 42, and Lau Man-yee, 36, both proprietors of five companies in trading or engineering business, were respectively jailed for eight months and 2 4 weeks.
Li Kwok-ki and Lau Man-yee earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, while Li Kwok-keung was found guilty of the same offence after trial.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr William Ng said the fraud, of which Li Kwok-ki was the mastermind, had undermined public confidence in the government tendering system.
The magistrate also remarked that being a civil servant, Li Kwok-keung breached the trust the government placed on him.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that Li Kwok-keung might have accepted advantages for releasing confidential tendering information. ICAC enquiries revealed the offence of conspiracy to defraud.
At the time of the offence, Li Kwok-keung was responsible for procuring gardening products on behalf of the then Urban Services Department (USD), whose functions were subsequently taken up by LCSD since January 2001.
The court heard that between March 1, 1999 and April 30, 2000, the defendants had conspired to defraud the government by dishonestly causing:
- Li Kwok-keung to invite quotations for the supply of gardening products from the five companies controlled by Li Kwok-ki and Lau Man-yee;
- Li Kwok-ki and Lau Man-yee to submit sham quotations; and
- the then USD and LCSD to award over $130,000 worth of contracts for the procurement of gardening products to one of the five companies.
Such products included fencing and other accessories.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Simon Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Edward So.