Duo jailed for bribery and theft charges over HD market rental
2006-3-27
Two former employees of a market management contractor of the Housing Department (HD), charged by the ICAC, were today (Monday) sent to jail at Tuen Mun Magistracy for soliciting and accepting illegal commissions from market tenants.
Poon Chi-kwong and Lo Chi-keung, both 59 and respectively former manager and former caretaker of Modern Market Management Limited (Modern Market), were jailed for 12 months and 10 months respectively.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of four offences –'96 one of agent accepting an advantage, one of agent soliciting an advantage, and two of theft. Poon further admitted a similar theft offence.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Mr Stephen Wong said custodial sentences were imposed on the defendants in view of the serious offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Modern Market was the principal tenant of Chung Fu (Modern) Market at a Tin Shui Wai housing estate. Stalls and warehouses in the market were sublet to individual tenants through Modern Market.
Poon and Lo were then employed by Modern Market respectively as manager and caretaker, responsible for the leasing of market stalls.
On February 11, 2004, a tenant agreed to rent two market stalls at a monthly rental of $32,000.
Poon and Lo later proposed that they could reduce the monthly rent to $30,000 and asked the tenant to pay $6,000 as a commission, claiming that the commission was known and approved by Modern Market.
Believing that it was a legitimate payment, the tenant paid the commission.
On another occasion in May 2004, Poon and Lo solicited $8,000 from a second tenant for a similar reason.
Modern Market prohibited its employees from soliciting and accepting advantages in relation to its business.
The court also heard that on May 26, 2004, the second tenant decided to change his lease from a monthly term to an annual basis. The tenant was informed that he had to pay a $2,000 administration fee. Without the knowledge of Modern Market, Poon pockete d the payment.
On two separate occasions in July 2004, Poon and Lo deceived two other payments of $18,000 and $1,200 from a third tenant under different pretexts, and pocketed the payments without the knowledge of Modern Market, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jonathan Ho.
Poon Chi-kwong and Lo Chi-keung, both 59 and respectively former manager and former caretaker of Modern Market Management Limited (Modern Market), were jailed for 12 months and 10 months respectively.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to a total of four offences –'96 one of agent accepting an advantage, one of agent soliciting an advantage, and two of theft. Poon further admitted a similar theft offence.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Mr Stephen Wong said custodial sentences were imposed on the defendants in view of the serious offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Modern Market was the principal tenant of Chung Fu (Modern) Market at a Tin Shui Wai housing estate. Stalls and warehouses in the market were sublet to individual tenants through Modern Market.
Poon and Lo were then employed by Modern Market respectively as manager and caretaker, responsible for the leasing of market stalls.
On February 11, 2004, a tenant agreed to rent two market stalls at a monthly rental of $32,000.
Poon and Lo later proposed that they could reduce the monthly rent to $30,000 and asked the tenant to pay $6,000 as a commission, claiming that the commission was known and approved by Modern Market.
Believing that it was a legitimate payment, the tenant paid the commission.
On another occasion in May 2004, Poon and Lo solicited $8,000 from a second tenant for a similar reason.
Modern Market prohibited its employees from soliciting and accepting advantages in relation to its business.
The court also heard that on May 26, 2004, the second tenant decided to change his lease from a monthly term to an annual basis. The tenant was informed that he had to pay a $2,000 administration fee. Without the knowledge of Modern Market, Poon pockete d the payment.
On two separate occasions in July 2004, Poon and Lo deceived two other payments of $18,000 and $1,200 from a third tenant under different pretexts, and pocketed the payments without the knowledge of Modern Market, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jonathan Ho.