Land inspector and two others face court for alleged bribery and fraud over land resumption compensation
2004-1-27
An officer of the Lands Department (LD), a fish pond operator and his wife, charged by the ICAC for alleged bribery and fraud in relation to ex-gratia compensation for a land resumption exercise in the New Territories, appeared in Fanling Magistracy today (Tuesday).
Man Sun-ming, 46, Land Inspector I of LD, pleaded not guilty to one count of government servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
Lai Hung-kei, 67, fish pond operator, denied one count of offering an advantage to a government officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of PBO, and one of using a false instrument; while his wife, Kan Yau-choi, 45, pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery.
Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned the case until February 27, 2004 for a pre-trial review.
The defendants were arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry in July last year.
Man was alleged to have accepted a $120,000 loan from Lai, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive.
Lai faced one count of offering the $120,000 loan to Man without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, whilst having dealings with the government through LD.
Lai was also alleged to have used 91 false vouchers from two fishmongers, a rice shop and a fish fry company, with the intention of inducing officers of District Lands Office, North of LD to accept them as genuine.
It was alleged that the false vouchers purportedly evidenced tenancy and rental agreements in relation to a number of fish ponds, as well as business transactions between Lai, the fishmongers and the fish fry company.
The remaining charge alleged Kan of making 43 of the false vouchers.
The alleged offences took place between February 2002 and June 2003.
The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000, and ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Shirley Lau.
Man Sun-ming, 46, Land Inspector I of LD, pleaded not guilty to one count of government servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 3 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (PBO).
Lai Hung-kei, 67, fish pond operator, denied one count of offering an advantage to a government officer, contrary to Section 8(1) of PBO, and one of using a false instrument; while his wife, Kan Yau-choi, 45, pleaded not guilty to one count of forgery.
Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on adjourned the case until February 27, 2004 for a pre-trial review.
The defendants were arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry in July last year.
Man was alleged to have accepted a $120,000 loan from Lai, without the general or special permission of the Chief Executive.
Lai faced one count of offering the $120,000 loan to Man without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, whilst having dealings with the government through LD.
Lai was also alleged to have used 91 false vouchers from two fishmongers, a rice shop and a fish fry company, with the intention of inducing officers of District Lands Office, North of LD to accept them as genuine.
It was alleged that the false vouchers purportedly evidenced tenancy and rental agreements in relation to a number of fish ponds, as well as business transactions between Lai, the fishmongers and the fish fry company.
The remaining charge alleged Kan of making 43 of the false vouchers.
The alleged offences took place between February 2002 and June 2003.
The defendants were each granted cash bail of $10,000, and ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Shirley Lau.