Ex-Assistant Manager of URA charged for alleged bribery and fraud over redevelopment compensation
2004-8-17
A former Assistant Manager of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) was today (Tuesday) charged by the ICAC for alleged bribery and fraud in relation to compensation over five redevelopment projects of URA.
Sinon Chan Ling-wai, 41, will appear at Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am on Thursday (August 19, 2004) on one count of conspiracy for public servant to accept an advantage, and four of conspiracy to defraud.
Chan was arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry in April this year. At the time of the alleged offences, Chan was an Assistant Manager of URA.
The bribery charge alleges Chan of conspiring with a director of a company to accept bribes from the director as a reward for Chan to provide the director with confidential information as to when a project occupancy survey in respect of a redevelopment pr oject at Larch Street, Kowloon, would be conducted by URA.
The remaining charges allege that Chan had conspired with the director to defraud URA in relation to four other redevelopment projects at Po On Road, Reclamation Street, First Street, and Lee Tung Street, by dishonestly disclosing to the director confiden tial information as to when the project occupancy surveys of these redevelopment projects would be carried out.
Chan is alleged to have caused the director or other persons to rent a room or a shop within the boundary of the redevelopment projects before the surveys were carried out by URA, and to apply to URA as tenants in occupation of the room or shop for cash c ompensation in return for surrendering the premises to URA as part of the land resumption process.
The charges further allege Chan of inducing URA to approve such applications and to grant cash compensation at amounts larger than they were entitled to claim.
Chan is also accused of concealing and sharing the profit generated from the scheme.
ICAC inquiries revealed that as a result of the fraudulent scheme, Chan had allegedly defrauded URA of about $200,000 in redevelopment compensation.
The alleged bribery and fraud offences took place between June 2002 and April this year.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Thursday.
Sinon Chan Ling-wai, 41, will appear at Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am on Thursday (August 19, 2004) on one count of conspiracy for public servant to accept an advantage, and four of conspiracy to defraud.
Chan was arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry in April this year. At the time of the alleged offences, Chan was an Assistant Manager of URA.
The bribery charge alleges Chan of conspiring with a director of a company to accept bribes from the director as a reward for Chan to provide the director with confidential information as to when a project occupancy survey in respect of a redevelopment pr oject at Larch Street, Kowloon, would be conducted by URA.
The remaining charges allege that Chan had conspired with the director to defraud URA in relation to four other redevelopment projects at Po On Road, Reclamation Street, First Street, and Lee Tung Street, by dishonestly disclosing to the director confiden tial information as to when the project occupancy surveys of these redevelopment projects would be carried out.
Chan is alleged to have caused the director or other persons to rent a room or a shop within the boundary of the redevelopment projects before the surveys were carried out by URA, and to apply to URA as tenants in occupation of the room or shop for cash c ompensation in return for surrendering the premises to URA as part of the land resumption process.
The charges further allege Chan of inducing URA to approve such applications and to grant cash compensation at amounts larger than they were entitled to claim.
Chan is also accused of concealing and sharing the profit generated from the scheme.
ICAC inquiries revealed that as a result of the fraudulent scheme, Chan had allegedly defrauded URA of about $200,000 in redevelopment compensation.
The alleged bribery and fraud offences took place between June 2002 and April this year.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Thursday.