Two and a half years' jail for duo offering $950,000 bribes over temple maintenance works
2003-10-23
A member of the Chinese Temples Committee (CTC) and a director of a construction company were today (Thursday) each sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment at District Court for offering $950,000 in bribes in relation to maintenance works at templ es and cemeteries.
Wu Wing-kai, 65, member of CTC, and Alan Lau Tung-chee, 44, director of Wai Shing Construction Company Limited (Wai Shing), were earlier found guilty of one count of offering advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Albert Wong said the defendants had committed a serious bribery offence, and a jail term was necessary to serve as a deterrent.
The judge added that as a senior member of CTC, Wu had caused a serious breach of trust.
The court heard that Wai Shing was a contractor for maintenance works of both CTC and the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries.
On September 4, 2000, Wu and Lau had dinner with William Tam Nai-yim, then employed by eight charitable bodies as the Executive Secretary of the Trust Funds, Temples and Cemeteries Section under the Home Affairs Bureau, at a hotel in North Point.
Afterwards, they went up to a room at the hotel where Wu and Lau discussed with Tam their plan to set up a factory, Chang Qing Yuen Artwork Manufactory (Chang Qing Yuen), in the Mainland to supply timber to CTC contractors.
The timber was then processed by Cheng Jiu (Guangzhou) Building Material Company (Cheng Jiu).
Wu and Lau had a substantial financial interest in Chang Qing Yuen and Cheng Jiu.
The court heard that before leaving the hotel room, Wu handed Tam an envelope containing $100,000 cash. Lau paid for the dinner and the room.
Wu had also offered Tam cash totalling about $850,000 on various occasions between September 4, 2000 and March 31, 2002, the court was told.
The bribes were rewards to Tam for concealing the financial interest of Wu in Chang Qing Yuen and Cheng Jiu, as well as showing favour to Wu, Lau, Wai Shing, Chang Qing Yuen, and Cheng Jiu in relation to his principal’s business.
Tam, who was also charged in connection with the case, had pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage. He was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Shaun Kelly on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Clement Cheng.
Wu Wing-kai, 65, member of CTC, and Alan Lau Tung-chee, 44, director of Wai Shing Construction Company Limited (Wai Shing), were earlier found guilty of one count of offering advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Albert Wong said the defendants had committed a serious bribery offence, and a jail term was necessary to serve as a deterrent.
The judge added that as a senior member of CTC, Wu had caused a serious breach of trust.
The court heard that Wai Shing was a contractor for maintenance works of both CTC and the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries.
On September 4, 2000, Wu and Lau had dinner with William Tam Nai-yim, then employed by eight charitable bodies as the Executive Secretary of the Trust Funds, Temples and Cemeteries Section under the Home Affairs Bureau, at a hotel in North Point.
Afterwards, they went up to a room at the hotel where Wu and Lau discussed with Tam their plan to set up a factory, Chang Qing Yuen Artwork Manufactory (Chang Qing Yuen), in the Mainland to supply timber to CTC contractors.
The timber was then processed by Cheng Jiu (Guangzhou) Building Material Company (Cheng Jiu).
Wu and Lau had a substantial financial interest in Chang Qing Yuen and Cheng Jiu.
The court heard that before leaving the hotel room, Wu handed Tam an envelope containing $100,000 cash. Lau paid for the dinner and the room.
Wu had also offered Tam cash totalling about $850,000 on various occasions between September 4, 2000 and March 31, 2002, the court was told.
The bribes were rewards to Tam for concealing the financial interest of Wu in Chang Qing Yuen and Cheng Jiu, as well as showing favour to Wu, Lau, Wai Shing, Chang Qing Yuen, and Cheng Jiu in relation to his principal’s business.
Tam, who was also charged in connection with the case, had pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage. He was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment.
The prosecution was today represented by Shaun Kelly on a fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Clement Cheng.