Three Artisans of FEHD jailed for bribery over cremation services
2006-9-7
Three Artisans of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), charged by the ICAC, today (Thursday) received jail terms at the District Court for bribery in relation to cremation services at Fu Shan Crematorium.
Liu Weng-kee, 57, received an imprisonment of 16 months, while Tang Wan-hing, 52, and Leung Ying-ming, 53, were each jailed for 15 months.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Colin Mackintosh said deterrent jail sentences must be imposed on the defendants in view of the prolonged period of their offences.
The judge reprimanded the defendants for showing no remorse, adding that the acceptance of bribe payments in their capacity as public servants might bring adverse impact on the society.
The defendants were earlier found guilty on a total of three charges of conspiracy for public servants to accept advantages, contrary to Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The case arose from a complaint referred by FEHD. Subsequent enquiries revealed the bribery offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Liu, Tang and Leung were attached to Fu Shan Crematorium.
Between July 1997 and March 2004, Liu and Leung had conspired together to accept bribe payments from a funeral parlour agent on various occasions.
In return, Liu and Leung ensured that corpses in coffins submitted by the funeral parlour agent to the crematorium would be cremated expeditiously, and that should oversized coffins containing corpses be submitted by him, cremation would be carried out wi thout hindrance.
The court heard that between September 2001 and March 2004, Liu, Tang and Leung had also conspired together to accept bribe payments on various occasions from two other funeral parlour agents for the same reason.
The bribe payments accepted by Liu, Tang and Leung ranged from $80 to $100 on each occasion, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Flora Cheng, assisted by ICAC officer Tommy Lui.
Liu Weng-kee, 57, received an imprisonment of 16 months, while Tang Wan-hing, 52, and Leung Ying-ming, 53, were each jailed for 15 months.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Colin Mackintosh said deterrent jail sentences must be imposed on the defendants in view of the prolonged period of their offences.
The judge reprimanded the defendants for showing no remorse, adding that the acceptance of bribe payments in their capacity as public servants might bring adverse impact on the society.
The defendants were earlier found guilty on a total of three charges of conspiracy for public servants to accept advantages, contrary to Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The case arose from a complaint referred by FEHD. Subsequent enquiries revealed the bribery offences.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, Liu, Tang and Leung were attached to Fu Shan Crematorium.
Between July 1997 and March 2004, Liu and Leung had conspired together to accept bribe payments from a funeral parlour agent on various occasions.
In return, Liu and Leung ensured that corpses in coffins submitted by the funeral parlour agent to the crematorium would be cremated expeditiously, and that should oversized coffins containing corpses be submitted by him, cremation would be carried out wi thout hindrance.
The court heard that between September 2001 and March 2004, Liu, Tang and Leung had also conspired together to accept bribe payments on various occasions from two other funeral parlour agents for the same reason.
The bribe payments accepted by Liu, Tang and Leung ranged from $80 to $100 on each occasion, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Flora Cheng, assisted by ICAC officer Tommy Lui.