Nineteen charged for allegedly defrauding FEHD over bidding of cooked food stalls
2007-3-21
Nineteen persons have been charged by the ICAC for allegedly defrauding the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in relation to the bidding of cooked food stalls at Tai Po Hui Market.
The defendants are Au Miu-ngor, 46, Chan Wai-yip, 29, Fung Moon-kwai, 56, Hung Chau-ming, 46, Wong Lit, 78, Sin Kam-sing, 63, Choi Kwai-sing, 57, Chan Chun-kim, 59, Lee Chi-ying, 56, Cheung Chi-keung, 48, Wong Chung-tit, 47, Li Yuk-fai, 53, Wong Tak-hing, 47, Cheung Mui-fong, 52, Fung Moon-kwong, 46, Tang Yiu-kwan, 50, Li Sai-hung, 52, Wong Oi-kwan, 44, and Chan Ping-chiu, 71, all cooked food stall operators.
They will appear in Fanling Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Thursday) on one count of conspiracy to defraud.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed an alleged conspiracy to deceive FEHD.
In 2004, all cooked food stall tenants and their appointed assistants in Tai Po Temporary Market were required to move to the newly built Tai Po Hui Market (new market) in Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po. These operators were given priority to bid the stall s in the new market at a restricted auction held on July 21, 2004 by FEHD.
The charge alleges that between June and July 2004, the defendants had allegedly pre-allotted the cooked food stalls at the new market prior to the auction, and agreed not to compete against one another in bidding the stalls at the auction.
As a result, FEHD was allegedly deceived into believing that there was only one bid offered at the upset price for each of the cooked food stalls and renting the stalls at the upset prices to the defendants or their representatives.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.
The defendants are Au Miu-ngor, 46, Chan Wai-yip, 29, Fung Moon-kwai, 56, Hung Chau-ming, 46, Wong Lit, 78, Sin Kam-sing, 63, Choi Kwai-sing, 57, Chan Chun-kim, 59, Lee Chi-ying, 56, Cheung Chi-keung, 48, Wong Chung-tit, 47, Li Yuk-fai, 53, Wong Tak-hing, 47, Cheung Mui-fong, 52, Fung Moon-kwong, 46, Tang Yiu-kwan, 50, Li Sai-hung, 52, Wong Oi-kwan, 44, and Chan Ping-chiu, 71, all cooked food stall operators.
They will appear in Fanling Magistracy at 9:30 am tomorrow (Thursday) on one count of conspiracy to defraud.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed an alleged conspiracy to deceive FEHD.
In 2004, all cooked food stall tenants and their appointed assistants in Tai Po Temporary Market were required to move to the newly built Tai Po Hui Market (new market) in Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po. These operators were given priority to bid the stall s in the new market at a restricted auction held on July 21, 2004 by FEHD.
The charge alleges that between June and July 2004, the defendants had allegedly pre-allotted the cooked food stalls at the new market prior to the auction, and agreed not to compete against one another in bidding the stalls at the auction.
As a result, FEHD was allegedly deceived into believing that there was only one bid offered at the upset price for each of the cooked food stalls and renting the stalls at the upset prices to the defendants or their representatives.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances tomorrow.