Architect alleged of taking $500,000 bribe caught red-handed
2004-5-13
An architect of a consultancy firm was caught red-handed by the ICAC on Tuesday (May 11) for accepting from a proprietor of an engineering company $500,000, suspected to be bribe payment in relation to a renovation project at a private residential buildin g in The Peak.
The arrestee, employed by the consultancy firm and responsible for coordinating and supervising the works carried out by the engineering company, had allegedly demanded bribes from the latter as a reward for lax supervision and the release of interim paym ents.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that the architect might have solicited and accepted bribes in relation to renovation works at the residential building.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the owners' committee of the residential building earlier awarded a renovation contract to an engineering company, and appointed a consultancy firm to supervise the project.
At a meeting monitored by the ICAC on Tuesday night, the architect was arrested upon collecting $500,000 from the proprietor of the engineering company.
The architect had resisted arrest and attempted to escape and to dispose of the suspected bribe money.
The money was recovered from a lavatory of a private club in which the architect was arrested.
The arrestee has been released on ICAC bail, pending further inquiries.
The arrestee, employed by the consultancy firm and responsible for coordinating and supervising the works carried out by the engineering company, had allegedly demanded bribes from the latter as a reward for lax supervision and the release of interim paym ents.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint, alleging that the architect might have solicited and accepted bribes in relation to renovation works at the residential building.
ICAC inquiries revealed that the owners' committee of the residential building earlier awarded a renovation contract to an engineering company, and appointed a consultancy firm to supervise the project.
At a meeting monitored by the ICAC on Tuesday night, the architect was arrested upon collecting $500,000 from the proprietor of the engineering company.
The architect had resisted arrest and attempted to escape and to dispose of the suspected bribe money.
The money was recovered from a lavatory of a private club in which the architect was arrested.
The arrestee has been released on ICAC bail, pending further inquiries.