Trio charged for alleged bribery and fraud over URA redevelopment compensation
2005-9-20
The ICAC has charged three persons for alleged bribery and fraud involving cash compensation totalling about $1.8 million in relation to three redevelopment projects of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA).
The defendants are Yip Wa-ming, 40, a director of Kind Year Limited; Chan Lai-ying, 33, a property agent; and Jennifer Ng Suk-ling, 39, a housekeeping assistant. They will appear in Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am on Thursday (September 22) in two sep arate cases.
The defendants were earlier arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry.
In the first case, Yip faces four alleged offences –'96 one of offering an advantage to a public servant, one of fraud, and two of conspiracy to defraud.
The bribery charge alleges Yip of offering $100,000 to an Assistant Manager of URA as a reward for the latter to provide confidential information in relation to a redevelopment project at Larch Street/Bedford Road, Tai Kok Tsui.
Yip is also alleged to have conspired with another person to defraud URA in relation to an application for cash compensation in connection with the above redevelopment project.
Yip further faces a similar charge of conspiracy to defraud URA in relation to another redevelopment project at Lee Tung Street, Wanchai.
Yip also faces one count of fraud in relation to a third redevelopment project at Reclamation Street, Mong Kok.
Also charged in the same case, Chan faces eight alleged offences –'96 seven of conspiracy to defraud and one of fraud.
The seven charges allege Chan of conspiring with Yip and/or other persons to defraud URA in relation to applications for cash compensation in connection with the above three development projects.
Chan is also alleged to have, with intent to defraud, induced URA to grant her cash compensation at an amount larger than she was entitled to claim.
ICAC enquiries revealed that Yip and Chan had allegedly deceived cash compensation, totalling $1,677,500, from URA.
In the second case, Ng faces one count of conspiring with another person to defraud URA in relation to an application for cash compensation in relation to the redevelopment project at Reclamation Street, Mong Kok.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the cash compensation involved amounted to $119,000.
The alleged offences in the above two cases took place between June 2002 and January last year.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Thursday.
The Assistant Manager of URA involved had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of accepting an advantage and four counts of conspiracy to defraud, and is currently serving 32 months' imprisonment.
Also arising from the same investigation, another 18 persons have earlier been charged with fraud and related offences in connection with their applications to defraud URA of compensation. Eight of them pleaded guilty or convicted. One was sentenced to four months' imprisonment, while the other seven received suspended sentences. The remaining 10 are pending trial.
The defendants are Yip Wa-ming, 40, a director of Kind Year Limited; Chan Lai-ying, 33, a property agent; and Jennifer Ng Suk-ling, 39, a housekeeping assistant. They will appear in Kowloon City Magistracy at 9:30 am on Thursday (September 22) in two sep arate cases.
The defendants were earlier arrested by the ICAC during a corruption inquiry.
In the first case, Yip faces four alleged offences –'96 one of offering an advantage to a public servant, one of fraud, and two of conspiracy to defraud.
The bribery charge alleges Yip of offering $100,000 to an Assistant Manager of URA as a reward for the latter to provide confidential information in relation to a redevelopment project at Larch Street/Bedford Road, Tai Kok Tsui.
Yip is also alleged to have conspired with another person to defraud URA in relation to an application for cash compensation in connection with the above redevelopment project.
Yip further faces a similar charge of conspiracy to defraud URA in relation to another redevelopment project at Lee Tung Street, Wanchai.
Yip also faces one count of fraud in relation to a third redevelopment project at Reclamation Street, Mong Kok.
Also charged in the same case, Chan faces eight alleged offences –'96 seven of conspiracy to defraud and one of fraud.
The seven charges allege Chan of conspiring with Yip and/or other persons to defraud URA in relation to applications for cash compensation in connection with the above three development projects.
Chan is also alleged to have, with intent to defraud, induced URA to grant her cash compensation at an amount larger than she was entitled to claim.
ICAC enquiries revealed that Yip and Chan had allegedly deceived cash compensation, totalling $1,677,500, from URA.
In the second case, Ng faces one count of conspiring with another person to defraud URA in relation to an application for cash compensation in relation to the redevelopment project at Reclamation Street, Mong Kok.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the cash compensation involved amounted to $119,000.
The alleged offences in the above two cases took place between June 2002 and January last year.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Thursday.
The Assistant Manager of URA involved had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of accepting an advantage and four counts of conspiracy to defraud, and is currently serving 32 months' imprisonment.
Also arising from the same investigation, another 18 persons have earlier been charged with fraud and related offences in connection with their applications to defraud URA of compensation. Eight of them pleaded guilty or convicted. One was sentenced to four months' imprisonment, while the other seven received suspended sentences. The remaining 10 are pending trial.