Eight face ICAC charges over illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River
2004-6-29
Eight persons have been charged by the ICAC today (Tuesday) for alleged fraud and perverting the course of public justice in relation to the illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River.
The defendants are: Law Kam-fai, 63, chairman of Tung Chung Rural Committee (TCRC); Wong Yat-wah, 51, operator of Tung Po Engineering Company (Tung Po); Li Kwai-mo, 61, vice-chairman of TCRC; Mok Kwong-ming, 65, secretary of TCRC; Fan Chi-ping, 58, Cheung Kwok-kwong, 46, Wong Sing-lam 56, all members of TCRC; and Kwok Loi-yau, 47, senior site superintendent of Artscapes (Far East) Limited (Artscapes).
They will appear at Tsuen Wan Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday) on a total of seven charges.
The ICAC earlier received a number of corruption complaints in connection with the illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River. The defendants were arrested in an operation in April this year.
Subsequent ICAC inquiries revealed a fraudulent scheme whereby the defendants had allegedly participated in or connived at the unlawful removal of rocks.
Law and Wong Yat-wah face two joint charges of conspiracy. The first charge alleges them of defrauding the Government in relation to false representations over a flooding problem between particular sections of Tung Chung River, and the second one relates to the theft of rocks from the same River allegedly committed by the duo.
Law and Wong Yat-wah are alleged to have falsely claimed that TCRC had instructed Wong Yat-wah of Tung Po to carry out a flood prevention project, and that the dredging work carried out in the river was purely for the purpose of solving the flooding probl em. They are further alleged to have colluded to dishonestly remove rocks from Tung Chung River.
In addition, Law and Wong Yat-wah have been jointly charged with one count of unauthorised excavations in unleased land, as well as one of removal of stone from unleased land, respectively under Section 7(1) and Section 8(1) of the Land (Miscellaneous Pro visions) Ordinance.
Another charge alleges Law, Wong Yat-wah, Li, Mok, Fan, Cheung and Wong Sing-lam of conspiring together and with other persons to pervert the course of public justice by falsely representing to the Police that Wong Yat-wah was authorised by TCRC during a committee meeting to excavate rocks from Tung Chung River.
Wong Yat-wah and Kwok face another charge of conspiring together and with another person to pervert the course of public justice in relation to the origin and cost of rocks provided to Artscapes by Tung Po.
Wong Yat-wah alone faces a further charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice by falsely representing to the Police that a named contractor had provided free charitable service to TCRC regarding dredging work of the river bed of Tung Chu ng River.
The above alleged offences took place between October 2003 and February 2004.
Both the Police and the Lands Department have conducted their own inquiries and rendered assistance to the ICAC investigation, contributing to the charges in relation to the alleged theft of rocks and suspected breach of the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions ) Ordinance. Upon legal advice, prosecution in relation to all the alleged offences was initiated by the ICAC.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.
The defendants are: Law Kam-fai, 63, chairman of Tung Chung Rural Committee (TCRC); Wong Yat-wah, 51, operator of Tung Po Engineering Company (Tung Po); Li Kwai-mo, 61, vice-chairman of TCRC; Mok Kwong-ming, 65, secretary of TCRC; Fan Chi-ping, 58, Cheung Kwok-kwong, 46, Wong Sing-lam 56, all members of TCRC; and Kwok Loi-yau, 47, senior site superintendent of Artscapes (Far East) Limited (Artscapes).
They will appear at Tsuen Wan Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday) on a total of seven charges.
The ICAC earlier received a number of corruption complaints in connection with the illegal excavation of rocks from Tung Chung River. The defendants were arrested in an operation in April this year.
Subsequent ICAC inquiries revealed a fraudulent scheme whereby the defendants had allegedly participated in or connived at the unlawful removal of rocks.
Law and Wong Yat-wah face two joint charges of conspiracy. The first charge alleges them of defrauding the Government in relation to false representations over a flooding problem between particular sections of Tung Chung River, and the second one relates to the theft of rocks from the same River allegedly committed by the duo.
Law and Wong Yat-wah are alleged to have falsely claimed that TCRC had instructed Wong Yat-wah of Tung Po to carry out a flood prevention project, and that the dredging work carried out in the river was purely for the purpose of solving the flooding probl em. They are further alleged to have colluded to dishonestly remove rocks from Tung Chung River.
In addition, Law and Wong Yat-wah have been jointly charged with one count of unauthorised excavations in unleased land, as well as one of removal of stone from unleased land, respectively under Section 7(1) and Section 8(1) of the Land (Miscellaneous Pro visions) Ordinance.
Another charge alleges Law, Wong Yat-wah, Li, Mok, Fan, Cheung and Wong Sing-lam of conspiring together and with other persons to pervert the course of public justice by falsely representing to the Police that Wong Yat-wah was authorised by TCRC during a committee meeting to excavate rocks from Tung Chung River.
Wong Yat-wah and Kwok face another charge of conspiring together and with another person to pervert the course of public justice in relation to the origin and cost of rocks provided to Artscapes by Tung Po.
Wong Yat-wah alone faces a further charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice by falsely representing to the Police that a named contractor had provided free charitable service to TCRC regarding dredging work of the river bed of Tung Chu ng River.
The above alleged offences took place between October 2003 and February 2004.
Both the Police and the Lands Department have conducted their own inquiries and rendered assistance to the ICAC investigation, contributing to the charges in relation to the alleged theft of rocks and suspected breach of the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions ) Ordinance. Upon legal advice, prosecution in relation to all the alleged offences was initiated by the ICAC.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.