Four netted for alleged bribery and fraud over $1m RTHK contracts
2004-2-3
Four persons, including two employees and two former contract staff members of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), have been arrested by the ICAC for alleged bribery and fraud in relation to the awarding of RTHK production contracts.
The arrestees - a Project Co-ordinator, an Assistant Programme Officer, as well as two former contract staff of RTHK, were arrested last Thursday (January 29) in an operation code-named “Ferris Wheel” .
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that two RTHK contract staff, who also operated a number of production companies, might have offered advantages to some RTHK employees for their assistance in circumventing procurement pro cedures to award production contracts.
RTHK procurement regulations stipulate that for suppliers or services involving not more than $50,000, at least two quotations had to be obtained from different suppliers where the lower bidder would be awarded the contract.
Inquiries revealed that the two former contract staff arrested allegedly operated two companies, engaging in design and media production.
It was alleged that during their tenure with RTHK, the duo had submitted at least 26 bogus quotations in relation to production contracts for various projects.
Such bogus quotations, purportedly forwarded by various suppliers, contained prices that were much higher than the ones submitted by the duo’s companies.
It was alleged that as a result, production contracts, valued at about $1,030,000 in total, were awarded to those two companies.
The Project Co-ordinator and Assistant Programme Officer were suspected to have corruptly connived at the scam.
RTHK has rendered full co-operation and assistance to the ICAC during its inquiries.
The arrestees have been released on ICAC bail, pending further inquiries.
The arrestees - a Project Co-ordinator, an Assistant Programme Officer, as well as two former contract staff of RTHK, were arrested last Thursday (January 29) in an operation code-named “Ferris Wheel” .
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that two RTHK contract staff, who also operated a number of production companies, might have offered advantages to some RTHK employees for their assistance in circumventing procurement pro cedures to award production contracts.
RTHK procurement regulations stipulate that for suppliers or services involving not more than $50,000, at least two quotations had to be obtained from different suppliers where the lower bidder would be awarded the contract.
Inquiries revealed that the two former contract staff arrested allegedly operated two companies, engaging in design and media production.
It was alleged that during their tenure with RTHK, the duo had submitted at least 26 bogus quotations in relation to production contracts for various projects.
Such bogus quotations, purportedly forwarded by various suppliers, contained prices that were much higher than the ones submitted by the duo’s companies.
It was alleged that as a result, production contracts, valued at about $1,030,000 in total, were awarded to those two companies.
The Project Co-ordinator and Assistant Programme Officer were suspected to have corruptly connived at the scam.
RTHK has rendered full co-operation and assistance to the ICAC during its inquiries.
The arrestees have been released on ICAC bail, pending further inquiries.