Ex-security guard jailed for taking 'tea money' from reporter
2003-9-2
A former security guard was today (Tuesday) sentenced to 10 weeks' imprisonment at Western Magistracy for accepting $300 in total from a reporter for allowing him to enter a location-shooting site of a film company and take photos without the company's pe rmission.
Tse Fai, 30, formerly employed by Group 4 Falck (HK) Limited (Group 4), was also ordered to pay $300 in restitution to Group 4.
Tse earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of agent accepting an advantage, and one of soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Timothy Jenkins said a custodial sentence was warranted in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences.
The magistrate added that the sentence was reduced to 10 weeks from the starting point of four and a half months, taking into account his guilty plea and his cooperation with the ICAC.
The court heard that Group 4 was enlisted by Jettone Films Limited to provide security services at a Victoria Road premises, which the film company had leased from the Government Property Agency for location-shooting of a movie.
Admission to the shooting site was restricted to relevant artistes and crew members.
The court heard that in the small hours on February 1, 2003, Tse, while guarding the Victoria Road premises, was approached by a reporter who identified himself as "Mr Leung".
The reporter requested to take photographs of the shooting site and offered to give Tse some "tea money" as a reward.
Tse acceded to the reporter's request, and accepted $200 from the reporter after he had taken some photographs at the site.
In the early morning on February 5, 2003, Tse accepted another $100 from the reporter for allowing him entry to the shooting site to take more photographs.
The court also heard that on a separate occasion, Tse agreed to video-film acting scenes and costumes of the movie with a video camera provided by the reporter for a reward of $500.
The video-filming did not materialise as shooting of the movie was then suspended.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.
Tse Fai, 30, formerly employed by Group 4 Falck (HK) Limited (Group 4), was also ordered to pay $300 in restitution to Group 4.
Tse earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of agent accepting an advantage, and one of soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Magistrate Mr Timothy Jenkins said a custodial sentence was warranted in view of the seriousness of the bribery offences.
The magistrate added that the sentence was reduced to 10 weeks from the starting point of four and a half months, taking into account his guilty plea and his cooperation with the ICAC.
The court heard that Group 4 was enlisted by Jettone Films Limited to provide security services at a Victoria Road premises, which the film company had leased from the Government Property Agency for location-shooting of a movie.
Admission to the shooting site was restricted to relevant artistes and crew members.
The court heard that in the small hours on February 1, 2003, Tse, while guarding the Victoria Road premises, was approached by a reporter who identified himself as "Mr Leung".
The reporter requested to take photographs of the shooting site and offered to give Tse some "tea money" as a reward.
Tse acceded to the reporter's request, and accepted $200 from the reporter after he had taken some photographs at the site.
In the early morning on February 5, 2003, Tse accepted another $100 from the reporter for allowing him entry to the shooting site to take more photographs.
The court also heard that on a separate occasion, Tse agreed to video-film acting scenes and costumes of the movie with a video camera provided by the reporter for a reward of $500.
The video-filming did not materialise as shooting of the movie was then suspended.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Eastman Tang.