A former Chief Building Services Engineer of the Housing Department (HD), charged by the ICAC for soliciting and accepting bribes from approved building services contractors and suppliers, was today (Monday) convicted by a jury of the Court of First Insta nce after a re-trial.

Chan Kau-tai, 61, was found guilty of nine counts of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

Mr Justice Michael Lunn adjourned the case until 2:00 pm tomorrow (Tuesday) for mitigation and sentence. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.

Eight of the charges stated that between November 2000 and August 2001, the defendant solicited and accepted $1.3 million in total from a number of Housing Authority (HA) approved contractors and suppliers for rendering them assistance in relation to thei r business transactions with the HA and/or HD, and their performance of works.

The remaining bribery charge stated that in July 2001, the defendant accepted $200,000 from an HA supplier for assisting the supplier’s son in relation to his application for a government contract engineer post.

The Court of Appeal ordered a re-trial in January this year following the defendant's application to appeal against his earlier conviction.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Shaun Kelly, assisted by ICAC officer Diana Pang.