One year's jail for former property agent bribing CLP staff for business
2003-6-9
A former property agent, charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to one year's imprisonment at District Court for offering "secret commissions" to a property officer of the China Light and Power Co. Ltd. (CLP) for securing business deals.
Sun Ling, 35, formerly employed by Emperor Consultants (Retail) Limited (Emperor), was earlier found guilty on four counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Deputy Judge Ian Candy said an immediate custodial sentence was warranted, in view of the serious nature of the bribery offences.
The judge added that had the property transactions materialized, the defendant would have obtained monetary gains.
The court heard that CLP earlier planned to purchase a shop premises in Mong Kok.
In April 2002, the defendant, while employed by Emperor, approached the CLP property officer responsible for the purchase and provided information relating to a property at Nathan Road.
CLP offered to buy the property at $46 million, and agreed to pay the property agent 1% of the purchase price as commission.
On June 28, 2002, while discussing the deal with the CLP property officer, the defendant offered to pay him one-third of the commission as a "secret commission" for the property officer to close the deal with her.
The CLP officer refused the offer on the spot, and reported the matter to the CLP management.
The defendant made a similar offer to the CLP officer over the phone on July 18, 2002.
During a meeting on August 9, 2002, the defendant told the CLP officer that the landlord counter-offered to sell the property at $68 million. She promised to pay the officer one-third of the commission if he closed the deal with her.
During the meeting, the defendant further offered to pay the officer one-third of her commissions in future if he could ensure that CLP sold, purchase or lease properties through her company.
The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers after the meeting.
CLP offered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Martin Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Pan Pan.
Sun Ling, 35, formerly employed by Emperor Consultants (Retail) Limited (Emperor), was earlier found guilty on four counts of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Deputy Judge Ian Candy said an immediate custodial sentence was warranted, in view of the serious nature of the bribery offences.
The judge added that had the property transactions materialized, the defendant would have obtained monetary gains.
The court heard that CLP earlier planned to purchase a shop premises in Mong Kok.
In April 2002, the defendant, while employed by Emperor, approached the CLP property officer responsible for the purchase and provided information relating to a property at Nathan Road.
CLP offered to buy the property at $46 million, and agreed to pay the property agent 1% of the purchase price as commission.
On June 28, 2002, while discussing the deal with the CLP property officer, the defendant offered to pay him one-third of the commission as a "secret commission" for the property officer to close the deal with her.
The CLP officer refused the offer on the spot, and reported the matter to the CLP management.
The defendant made a similar offer to the CLP officer over the phone on July 18, 2002.
During a meeting on August 9, 2002, the defendant told the CLP officer that the landlord counter-offered to sell the property at $68 million. She promised to pay the officer one-third of the commission if he closed the deal with her.
During the meeting, the defendant further offered to pay the officer one-third of her commissions in future if he could ensure that CLP sold, purchase or lease properties through her company.
The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers after the meeting.
CLP offered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Martin Hui, assisted by ICAC officer Pan Pan.