ICAC probe reveals alleged bribery, exploitation of wages and subcontracting fraud
2004-10-8
The ICAC has arrested 14 persons, including 10 senior and supervisory staff of a cleaning and pest control company, for their respective roles in alleged bribery to assist cleaning workers in securing continuous employment, and suspected fraud in relation to the subcontracting of cleaning contracts of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).
The 10 staff members of the company arrested were a managing director, two general managers, a manager, a site manager, and five foremen.
Also arrested in an operation codenamed " Cafe ", which commenced on Tuesday (October 5, 2004), were four cleaning subcontractors.
The case arose from a number of corruption complaints, alleging that some employees of a cleaning and pest control company contracted by FEHD might have accepted advantages from workers for assisting them in securing continuous employment.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the arrested site manager and five foremen of the cleaning company had allegedly requested a number of cleaning workers to deduct a sum from the monthly wages for keeping them on.
Inquiries also revealed that the arrested managing director, general managers and manager had allegedly defrauded FEHD by concealing that the FEHD cleaning contracts were subcontracted to other individuals.
It was alleged that false representations were made to FEHD to purportedly show that workers employed by the subcontractors to carry out cleaning work under these contracts were employees of the cleaning company.
FEHD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
All arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Inquiries are continuing.
The 10 staff members of the company arrested were a managing director, two general managers, a manager, a site manager, and five foremen.
Also arrested in an operation codenamed " Cafe ", which commenced on Tuesday (October 5, 2004), were four cleaning subcontractors.
The case arose from a number of corruption complaints, alleging that some employees of a cleaning and pest control company contracted by FEHD might have accepted advantages from workers for assisting them in securing continuous employment.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the arrested site manager and five foremen of the cleaning company had allegedly requested a number of cleaning workers to deduct a sum from the monthly wages for keeping them on.
Inquiries also revealed that the arrested managing director, general managers and manager had allegedly defrauded FEHD by concealing that the FEHD cleaning contracts were subcontracted to other individuals.
It was alleged that false representations were made to FEHD to purportedly show that workers employed by the subcontractors to carry out cleaning work under these contracts were employees of the cleaning company.
FEHD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
All arrestees have been released on ICAC bail. Inquiries are continuing.