Ex-IO chairman jailed for taking bribes for awarding cleaning contract
2006-6-7
A former chairman of an Incorporated Owners (IO) of a residential building, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to seven months' imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for taking bribes totalling $75,000 for awarding a cleaning contract of the building.
Lee Leng-kong, 71, former chairman of the IO of Hing Wong Mansion in Tai Kok Tsui, was also ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution to the government.
Also charged in the same case was Leong Kam-lan, 50, who was also jailed for seven months today.
Lee was earlier found guilty of two counts of agent accepting advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, while Leong was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting Lee in committing the bribery offences.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Douglas Yau reprimanded Lee for abusing his position as IO chairman.
The magistrate added that an immediate custodial sentence must be imposed to serve as a deterrent, as the corruption offences were serious and had impaired the international reputation of Hong Kong.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Lee was the chairman of the IO of Hing Wong Mansion.
Man Mau-cho and Heung Sau-kuk, who also resided at Hing Wong Mansion, operated Man's Cleaning Service (Man's), which provided cleaning services to Hing Wong Mansion.
In November 2001, Lee promised to award the couple a three-year cleaning contract of the building.
On December 1, 2001, Lee signed a three-year contract with Man's. However, he indicated to Man and Heung that a commission should be paid to him since the normal tenure of the said contract was for one year.
On 35 occasions between December 2001 and October 2004, Man and Heung paid Lee a total of $70,000.
At Lee's birthday banquet on June 7, 2004, Heung gave him a "laisee" containing $5,000, hoping to secure a further cleaning contact of the building, the court was told.
Man and Heung, who were also charged in connection with the case, had earlier pleaded guilty to their roles in the bribery scam. They were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and fined $8,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The prosecution was today represented by Flora Cheng, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Jenny Chau.
Lee Leng-kong, 71, former chairman of the IO of Hing Wong Mansion in Tai Kok Tsui, was also ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution to the government.
Also charged in the same case was Leong Kam-lan, 50, who was also jailed for seven months today.
Lee was earlier found guilty of two counts of agent accepting advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, while Leong was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting Lee in committing the bribery offences.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Douglas Yau reprimanded Lee for abusing his position as IO chairman.
The magistrate added that an immediate custodial sentence must be imposed to serve as a deterrent, as the corruption offences were serious and had impaired the international reputation of Hong Kong.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Lee was the chairman of the IO of Hing Wong Mansion.
Man Mau-cho and Heung Sau-kuk, who also resided at Hing Wong Mansion, operated Man's Cleaning Service (Man's), which provided cleaning services to Hing Wong Mansion.
In November 2001, Lee promised to award the couple a three-year cleaning contract of the building.
On December 1, 2001, Lee signed a three-year contract with Man's. However, he indicated to Man and Heung that a commission should be paid to him since the normal tenure of the said contract was for one year.
On 35 occasions between December 2001 and October 2004, Man and Heung paid Lee a total of $70,000.
At Lee's birthday banquet on June 7, 2004, Heung gave him a "laisee" containing $5,000, hoping to secure a further cleaning contact of the building, the court was told.
Man and Heung, who were also charged in connection with the case, had earlier pleaded guilty to their roles in the bribery scam. They were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and fined $8,000 and $10,000 respectively.
The prosecution was today represented by Flora Cheng, counsel on fiat, assisted by ICAC officer Jenny Chau.