Landscape Architect of Housing Department guilty of misconduct
2007-10-9
A Landscape Architect of the Housing Department (HD), charged by the ICAC, was today (Tuesday) convicted at the District Court of misconduct in public office in relation to the recommendation of landscape materials used in HD projects.
Paul Wong Kwong-shun, 54, was found guilty of one count of misconduct in public office.
In delivering his verdict, Judge Patrick Li Hon-leung said the defendant's dishonest behaviour had affected public confidence in the HD's contracting mechanism.
The judge adjourned the case until October 26 for sentence, pending background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail of $20,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the offence of misconduct in public office.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, the defendant was posted to the Landscape Group of the HD's Development and Construction Division.
On July 7, 1999, the defendant introduced a close personal friend to set up Nikka Building Materials Limited (Nikka) with a businessman.
Between January 25, 2000 and September 2, 2001, the defendant recommended using landscape materials of a certain brand supplied by Nikka in four HD projects worth over $507,000 in total.
The defendant had failed to declare a conflict of interest arising from his close personal relationship with his friend, who was a director and shareholder of Nikka.
The defendant had given Nikka an unfair advantage over other suppliers by recommending the landscape materials concerned to be used in HD projects, the court heard.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Jonathan Ho.
Paul Wong Kwong-shun, 54, was found guilty of one count of misconduct in public office.
In delivering his verdict, Judge Patrick Li Hon-leung said the defendant's dishonest behaviour had affected public confidence in the HD's contracting mechanism.
The judge adjourned the case until October 26 for sentence, pending background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail of $20,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the offence of misconduct in public office.
The court heard that at the time of the offence, the defendant was posted to the Landscape Group of the HD's Development and Construction Division.
On July 7, 1999, the defendant introduced a close personal friend to set up Nikka Building Materials Limited (Nikka) with a businessman.
Between January 25, 2000 and September 2, 2001, the defendant recommended using landscape materials of a certain brand supplied by Nikka in four HD projects worth over $507,000 in total.
The defendant had failed to declare a conflict of interest arising from his close personal relationship with his friend, who was a director and shareholder of Nikka.
The defendant had given Nikka an unfair advantage over other suppliers by recommending the landscape materials concerned to be used in HD projects, the court heard.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Jonathan Ho.