Trio jailed for bribery scams over food ingredient orders
2003-8-15
A former dim sum supervisor of a restaurant, a food supplier and his delivery worker were today (Friday) sentenced to jail terms ranging from 18 months to three years and two months at District Court for bribery scams in relation to the placing of purchas e orders for food ingredients.
Lai Chip-hoo, 43, a former dim sum supervisor of the now defunct Golden Palace Seafood Restaurant Limited (Golden Palace), was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to his former employer.
Cheung Chi-foon, 39, and Cheung Kwok-fai, 56, respectively proprietor and delivery worker of Shun Lung Food Company (Shun Lung), were respectively jailed for three years and two months, and two years.
In sentencing, Judge Mary Yuen said custodial sentences were warranted in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences committed by the defendants.
Lai earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of accepting an advantage, and three of offering an advantage.
Cheung Chi-foon was yesterday found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to offer an advantage, while Cheung Kwok-fai earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to offer an advantage and one of conspiracy to defraud.
The court heard that Lai, while employed by Golden Palace, had accepted about $147,000 in total from Cheung Chi-foon and Cheung Kwok-fai as rewards for placing orders with Shun Lung as well as discarding excessive food ingredients ordered.
Lai also offered $7,500 in total to a subordinate for aiding in the scam.
The court heard that Cheung Chi-foon and Cheung Kwok-fai had conspired to offer $147,000 and $7,500 in total to Lai and another employee of Golden Palace respectively as rewards for placing purchase orders for food ingredients from Shun Lung, and showing favour to Shun Lung.
Cheung Kwok-fai also conspired to defraud Golden Palace by dishonestly causing the restaurant to make purchases of excessive food ingredients from Shun Lung, which were later delivered back to Shun Lung for sales as "fresh" ingredients to other restaurant s.
The court also heard that Cheung Chi-foon had conspired with Cheung Kwok-fai to offer an employee of Tung Cheuk Association (TCA) illegal rebates for the latter to place orders to purchase dim-sum or food ingredients from him.
The rebates, which were calculated at 15% of the monthly sales volume of dim sum ingredients ordered by TCA, totalled about $178,000.
The above offences took place between March 1998 and January 2002.
The employee of TCA was earlier charged with one count of conspiracy to accept an advantage. He had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Ned Lai, assisted by ICAC officer Kenny Wong.
Lai Chip-hoo, 43, a former dim sum supervisor of the now defunct Golden Palace Seafood Restaurant Limited (Golden Palace), was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to his former employer.
Cheung Chi-foon, 39, and Cheung Kwok-fai, 56, respectively proprietor and delivery worker of Shun Lung Food Company (Shun Lung), were respectively jailed for three years and two months, and two years.
In sentencing, Judge Mary Yuen said custodial sentences were warranted in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences committed by the defendants.
Lai earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of accepting an advantage, and three of offering an advantage.
Cheung Chi-foon was yesterday found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to offer an advantage, while Cheung Kwok-fai earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to offer an advantage and one of conspiracy to defraud.
The court heard that Lai, while employed by Golden Palace, had accepted about $147,000 in total from Cheung Chi-foon and Cheung Kwok-fai as rewards for placing orders with Shun Lung as well as discarding excessive food ingredients ordered.
Lai also offered $7,500 in total to a subordinate for aiding in the scam.
The court heard that Cheung Chi-foon and Cheung Kwok-fai had conspired to offer $147,000 and $7,500 in total to Lai and another employee of Golden Palace respectively as rewards for placing purchase orders for food ingredients from Shun Lung, and showing favour to Shun Lung.
Cheung Kwok-fai also conspired to defraud Golden Palace by dishonestly causing the restaurant to make purchases of excessive food ingredients from Shun Lung, which were later delivered back to Shun Lung for sales as "fresh" ingredients to other restaurant s.
The court also heard that Cheung Chi-foon had conspired with Cheung Kwok-fai to offer an employee of Tung Cheuk Association (TCA) illegal rebates for the latter to place orders to purchase dim-sum or food ingredients from him.
The rebates, which were calculated at 15% of the monthly sales volume of dim sum ingredients ordered by TCA, totalled about $178,000.
The above offences took place between March 1998 and January 2002.
The employee of TCA was earlier charged with one count of conspiracy to accept an advantage. He had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Government Counsel Ned Lai, assisted by ICAC officer Kenny Wong.