HyD staff and subcontractor guilty of Aberdeen Tunnel asbestos scam
2003-9-3
A staff of the Highways Department (HyD) and a subcontractor, charged by the ICAC, were today (Wednesday) convicted at District Court of fraud in relation to the replacement of damaged asbestos wall panels at the Aberdeen Tunnel.
Chan Wing-wai, 34, Works Supervisor I of HyD, and Tang Tak, 51, proprietor of Tak Lee Company (Tak Lee), were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud HyD and three of fraud.
Judge Day adjourned the case until 10:00 am tomorrow for sentence, and remanded the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a complaint, alleging that some HyD staff had corruptly connived at non-compliant works in relation to the replacement of asbestos wall panels inside the Aberdeen Tunnel. ICAC enquiries uncovered the conspiracy and fraud offences.
The court heard that Tak Lee was subcontracted to replace damaged asbestos wall panels with asbestos-free Cemboard panels inside the tunnel.
Chan, who was then responsible for supervising the project, and Tang had conspired with other persons to defraud HyD by falsely representing that the replacement of panels as specified in the relevant HyD works orders had been satisfactorily completed.
Chan and Tang had deceived HyD into making payments for such replacement works.
The court heard that Tang also falsely represented to HyD that asbestos panels in the North Tube and South Tube of the tunnel had been duly replaced with Cemboard panels as required.
Subsequently, Tang induced HyD to certify completion of such works and arrange payment.
The above offences took place between December 1997 and December 2000.
The court also heard that Chan had made false claims for overtime allowances totalling about $25,000 between July 1999 and February 2000.
The prosecution was today represented by Wong Hay-yiu on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Simon Cheng.
Chan Wing-wai, 34, Works Supervisor I of HyD, and Tang Tak, 51, proprietor of Tak Lee Company (Tak Lee), were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud HyD and three of fraud.
Judge Day adjourned the case until 10:00 am tomorrow for sentence, and remanded the defendants in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a complaint, alleging that some HyD staff had corruptly connived at non-compliant works in relation to the replacement of asbestos wall panels inside the Aberdeen Tunnel. ICAC enquiries uncovered the conspiracy and fraud offences.
The court heard that Tak Lee was subcontracted to replace damaged asbestos wall panels with asbestos-free Cemboard panels inside the tunnel.
Chan, who was then responsible for supervising the project, and Tang had conspired with other persons to defraud HyD by falsely representing that the replacement of panels as specified in the relevant HyD works orders had been satisfactorily completed.
Chan and Tang had deceived HyD into making payments for such replacement works.
The court heard that Tang also falsely represented to HyD that asbestos panels in the North Tube and South Tube of the tunnel had been duly replaced with Cemboard panels as required.
Subsequently, Tang induced HyD to certify completion of such works and arrange payment.
The above offences took place between December 1997 and December 2000.
The court also heard that Chan had made false claims for overtime allowances totalling about $25,000 between July 1999 and February 2000.
The prosecution was today represented by Wong Hay-yiu on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Simon Cheng.