Ex-US company staff jailed for accepting HK$11m illegal commissions
2005-12-7
A former employee of a US domestic appliances manufacturer, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to one year's imprisonment at District Court for accepting more than HK$11 million and US$102,000 (about HK$795,600) in illegal commissions fr om two suppliers.
Thomas Montanye HOFFMAN, 58, formerly employed by Lasko Products, Inc. (Lasko), had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of agent accepting advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Bina Chainrai said the jail term was reduced from a starting point of two-and-a-half year, after taking into account the defendant's guilty plea and his clear record.
The judge added that further reduction was given since the defendant had agreed to pay Lasko US$3 million in restitution as an out-of-court settlement of Lasko's civil claim against the defendant in the same matter. The first payment of US$2.75 million w as made today to Lasko before sentencing.
The court heard that while employed by Lasko, HOFFMAN was responsible for sourcing different components of Lasko products in Asia, negotiating the prices with suppliers, and arranging for delivery.
Supreme Industrial Motor Limited (Supreme) and Defond Manufacturing Limited (Defond) were component suppliers of Lasko in Hong Kong.
Between May 1993 and November 2001, HOFFMAN accepted more than HK$10.6 million and US$102,000 (about HK$795,600) from Supreme as rewards for procuring business from Lasko for Supreme.
Between June 1996 and June 1999, HOFFMAN accepted over HK$417,000 from Defond for the same reason.
The management of Lasko prohibited its employees from accepting advantages from suppliers doing business with Lasko, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Graeme Mackay, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Mon Chan.
Thomas Montanye HOFFMAN, 58, formerly employed by Lasko Products, Inc. (Lasko), had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of agent accepting advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Bina Chainrai said the jail term was reduced from a starting point of two-and-a-half year, after taking into account the defendant's guilty plea and his clear record.
The judge added that further reduction was given since the defendant had agreed to pay Lasko US$3 million in restitution as an out-of-court settlement of Lasko's civil claim against the defendant in the same matter. The first payment of US$2.75 million w as made today to Lasko before sentencing.
The court heard that while employed by Lasko, HOFFMAN was responsible for sourcing different components of Lasko products in Asia, negotiating the prices with suppliers, and arranging for delivery.
Supreme Industrial Motor Limited (Supreme) and Defond Manufacturing Limited (Defond) were component suppliers of Lasko in Hong Kong.
Between May 1993 and November 2001, HOFFMAN accepted more than HK$10.6 million and US$102,000 (about HK$795,600) from Supreme as rewards for procuring business from Lasko for Supreme.
Between June 1996 and June 1999, HOFFMAN accepted over HK$417,000 from Defond for the same reason.
The management of Lasko prohibited its employees from accepting advantages from suppliers doing business with Lasko, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by Graeme Mackay, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Mon Chan.