TELA officer guilty of misconduct over $230,000 printing contracts
2003-5-30
An officer of the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) was today (Friday) convicted at District Court of misconduct in public office in awarding TELA's printing and production contracts worth about $230,000 in total.
French Chow Fiat-mann, 42, Senior Executive Officer, was found guilty of two counts of misconduct in public office under the Common Law.
Judge Alan Wright adjourned the case until June 7, 2003 for consideration for a community service order report. The defendant was granted cash bail of $60,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that some TELA staff might have accepted advantages from suppliers in return for awarding printing contracts. ICAC investigations revealed the misconduct offences.
The court heard that in October 1997, Chow referred Merry Link Promotions Ltd. (Merry Link) to his subordinates for quotations for printing and souvenir production.
Chow had deliberately concealed from his subordinates, who were involved in processing contracts awarded by TELA, that Merry Link was owned and controlled by his wife, Iris Louisa Lim Giok-yan.
Between October 1, 1997 and December 31, 1998, Chow's subordinates had approached Lim on a number of occasions for quotations for various projects.
On each occasion, Lim, apart from supplying quotations of Merry Link, also provided forged quotations purportedly offered by other companies, so that Merry Link's always appeared to be the lowest.
These other companies either did not exist or had never been approached for quotations.
The court heard that during the above period, production and printing contracts valued at about $230,000 were awarded to Merry Link by circumventing the government's procurement procedures.
Lim, 41, who was also charged for her role in the scam, had pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery. Her case has also been adjourned until June 7, 2003.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Liu Yuen-ming, assisted by ICAC officer Martin Lee.
French Chow Fiat-mann, 42, Senior Executive Officer, was found guilty of two counts of misconduct in public office under the Common Law.
Judge Alan Wright adjourned the case until June 7, 2003 for consideration for a community service order report. The defendant was granted cash bail of $60,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that some TELA staff might have accepted advantages from suppliers in return for awarding printing contracts. ICAC investigations revealed the misconduct offences.
The court heard that in October 1997, Chow referred Merry Link Promotions Ltd. (Merry Link) to his subordinates for quotations for printing and souvenir production.
Chow had deliberately concealed from his subordinates, who were involved in processing contracts awarded by TELA, that Merry Link was owned and controlled by his wife, Iris Louisa Lim Giok-yan.
Between October 1, 1997 and December 31, 1998, Chow's subordinates had approached Lim on a number of occasions for quotations for various projects.
On each occasion, Lim, apart from supplying quotations of Merry Link, also provided forged quotations purportedly offered by other companies, so that Merry Link's always appeared to be the lowest.
These other companies either did not exist or had never been approached for quotations.
The court heard that during the above period, production and printing contracts valued at about $230,000 were awarded to Merry Link by circumventing the government's procurement procedures.
Lim, 41, who was also charged for her role in the scam, had pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery. Her case has also been adjourned until June 7, 2003.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Liu Yuen-ming, assisted by ICAC officer Martin Lee.