EMSD officer and engineering firm staff jailed for misconduct and bribery
2005-9-8
A senior officer of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and an assistant manager of an engineering firm, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) each sentenced to eight months' imprisonment at District Court for misconduct in publi c office and bribery.
Liu Tat-shing, 45, a Senior Electrical Inspector of EMSD, was today found guilty of one count of misconduct in public office and one of conspiracy to offer advantages to a prescribed officer, while Lo Siu-tung, 30, an assistant manager of Meco Services Li mited (MSL), was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting Liu in committing the misconduct offence.
Liu and Lo were further found guilty of one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant, and one of conspiracy to furnish false information.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge William Lam Kui-po said custodial sentences were imposed on the defendants in view of the seriousness of the offences.
The court heard that in November 2002, Meco Engineering Limited (Meco), the mother company of MSL, was awarded an $8.5 million EMSD contract in relation to replacement and maintenance of air-conditioning systems at various government properties.
Under the contract, Meco was to provide a vehicle and a chauffeur for the official use of EMSD staff.
At the time of the offences, Liu was tasked to supervise the works under the contract, while Lo was the representative of Meco.
Between November 2002 and March last year, Liu had instructed the chauffeur to take him and/or his girlfriends to meals or karaoke entertainment after work on at least 39 occasions, and to drive them back to their homes.
Lo was also present on most of those occasions to settle the bills for the meals and karaoke entertainment incurred by Liu and his girlfriends. Lo then claimed reimbursement for the expenses incurred, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 on each occasion, from Meco.
The court heard that in order to conceal the unauthorised excursions, Liu had allowed the chauffeur to make false entries in his overtime record, claiming a total of over $30,000 from Meco between January 2003 and February last year.
Approved by Liu and endorsed by Lo, the claim forms were sent to the accounts department of Meco for payment to the chauffeur.
The court also heard that in July 2003, Liu went on a package tour to Spain, France and Switzerland.
Liu claimed he had paid a $3,000 deposit, while the rest of the payment of the package tour as well as expenses incurred by Liu during the trip was borne by Lo and a subcontractor of Meco, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Wong Hay-yiu, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Heath Cheung.
Liu Tat-shing, 45, a Senior Electrical Inspector of EMSD, was today found guilty of one count of misconduct in public office and one of conspiracy to offer advantages to a prescribed officer, while Lo Siu-tung, 30, an assistant manager of Meco Services Li mited (MSL), was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting Liu in committing the misconduct offence.
Liu and Lo were further found guilty of one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to a public servant, and one of conspiracy to furnish false information.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge William Lam Kui-po said custodial sentences were imposed on the defendants in view of the seriousness of the offences.
The court heard that in November 2002, Meco Engineering Limited (Meco), the mother company of MSL, was awarded an $8.5 million EMSD contract in relation to replacement and maintenance of air-conditioning systems at various government properties.
Under the contract, Meco was to provide a vehicle and a chauffeur for the official use of EMSD staff.
At the time of the offences, Liu was tasked to supervise the works under the contract, while Lo was the representative of Meco.
Between November 2002 and March last year, Liu had instructed the chauffeur to take him and/or his girlfriends to meals or karaoke entertainment after work on at least 39 occasions, and to drive them back to their homes.
Lo was also present on most of those occasions to settle the bills for the meals and karaoke entertainment incurred by Liu and his girlfriends. Lo then claimed reimbursement for the expenses incurred, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 on each occasion, from Meco.
The court heard that in order to conceal the unauthorised excursions, Liu had allowed the chauffeur to make false entries in his overtime record, claiming a total of over $30,000 from Meco between January 2003 and February last year.
Approved by Liu and endorsed by Lo, the claim forms were sent to the accounts department of Meco for payment to the chauffeur.
The court also heard that in July 2003, Liu went on a package tour to Spain, France and Switzerland.
Liu claimed he had paid a $3,000 deposit, while the rest of the payment of the package tour as well as expenses incurred by Liu during the trip was borne by Lo and a subcontractor of Meco, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Wong Hay-yiu, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Heath Cheung.