Former staff of FEHD pest control contractor charged for alleged fraud and blackmail over wages
2005-9-14
Three former staff of a pest control company contracted by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have been charged by the ICAC for allegedly defrauding the Government over the wages paid to workers and blackmailing the latter by demanding f rom them part of their wages.
Lee Bun-keung, 42, former contract manager of Green Harbour Environmental Services Limited (Green Harbour); Chau Ping-kuen, 44, and Po Ka-chun, 28, both former foremen of Green Harbour, will appear at Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Thursday) on o ne count of conspiracy to defraud, and one of conspiracy to blackmail.
Also charged in the same case is Kot Ka-kui, 54, contract manager of Centuryan Pest Control Services Limited.
Lee and Kot have been jointly charged with one count of using a false instrument and one of using a copy of a false instrument.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent enquiries revealed the alleged fraud and blackmail offences, which took place between August and December last year.
FEHD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
One of the charges alleges Lee, Chau and Po of conspiring together and with others to defraud the Government by dishonestly requiring employees of Green Harbour to return to them part of their wages, causing their wages to be reduced to a level below the minimum wage required under a contract entered between Green Harbour and the Government.
The defendants are alleged to have instructed those employees to falsely represent to FEHD that the workers had been paid the wages which complied with the said minimum wage requirement.
To conceal the fraudulent scam, the defendants are alleged to have submitted to FEHD payroll records and supporting bank records which purported to show that wages complying with the minimum wage requirement were paid to those employees.
The blackmail charge alleges Lee, Chau and Po of, with a view to gain for themselves, making an unwarranted demand with menaces to employees of Green Harbour that the latter pay to the trio part of their wages.
Lee and Kot are jointly charged with using a false invoice and a copy of a false invoice, both purportedly issued by Pak Shing Trading Services Limited.
It is alleged that the false documents were used by Lee to claim reimbursement of transportation fees from Green Harbour.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.
Lee Bun-keung, 42, former contract manager of Green Harbour Environmental Services Limited (Green Harbour); Chau Ping-kuen, 44, and Po Ka-chun, 28, both former foremen of Green Harbour, will appear at Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Thursday) on o ne count of conspiracy to defraud, and one of conspiracy to blackmail.
Also charged in the same case is Kot Ka-kui, 54, contract manager of Centuryan Pest Control Services Limited.
Lee and Kot have been jointly charged with one count of using a false instrument and one of using a copy of a false instrument.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent enquiries revealed the alleged fraud and blackmail offences, which took place between August and December last year.
FEHD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
One of the charges alleges Lee, Chau and Po of conspiring together and with others to defraud the Government by dishonestly requiring employees of Green Harbour to return to them part of their wages, causing their wages to be reduced to a level below the minimum wage required under a contract entered between Green Harbour and the Government.
The defendants are alleged to have instructed those employees to falsely represent to FEHD that the workers had been paid the wages which complied with the said minimum wage requirement.
To conceal the fraudulent scam, the defendants are alleged to have submitted to FEHD payroll records and supporting bank records which purported to show that wages complying with the minimum wage requirement were paid to those employees.
The blackmail charge alleges Lee, Chau and Po of, with a view to gain for themselves, making an unwarranted demand with menaces to employees of Green Harbour that the latter pay to the trio part of their wages.
Lee and Kot are jointly charged with using a false invoice and a copy of a false invoice, both purportedly issued by Pak Shing Trading Services Limited.
It is alleged that the false documents were used by Lee to claim reimbursement of transportation fees from Green Harbour.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.