Ex-construction company manager jailed for bribery over landslip preventive measures project
2007-10-24
A former assistant project manager of a construction engineering company, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to 33 months' imprisonment at the District Court for accepting $420,000 in bribes from subcontractors in relation to a landslip preventive measures project of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD).
Edmund Lau Kam-kee, 41, formerly employed by Barbican Construction Company Limited (Barbican), was found guilty of five counts of agent accepting an advantage, and one of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent.
In sentencing, Judge Chua Fi-lan said should the landship preventive measures project pose safety problems, a more severe jail sentence would be imposed.
The court heard that in June 2004, CEDD awarded to Barbican a $74 million contract for landslip preventive works for slopes in Tai Po and Yuen Long, with a contract period of around 30 months.
Barbican in turn subcontracted various parts of the slope maintenance works to other construction companies, including Fuk Shing Engineering Company (Fuk Shing), Wealth Success Construction Engineering Company Limited (Wealth Success), and Workbase Engine ering Limited (Workbase Engineering).
The defendant was then responsible for short-listing subcontractors for Barbican, supervising their works, and making recommendation for the payment of project fees.
The court heard that between June and August 2004, the defendant assisted Lai Kam-fuk, proprietor of Fuk Shing, in preparing a tender to bid for a subcontract of slope maintenance works.
The defendant solicited five per cent of the profits to be generated from the subcontract as a reward. Lai agreed to the deal.
In November 2004, Barbican accepted the tender, and entered a subcontract with Fuk Shing with an estimated project sum of $44 million.
As a result, the defendant accepted bribes totalling $100,000 from Lai.
The court heard that the defendant had, for the same reason, accepted a total of $120,000 and $200,000 from So Wing-shan, a major shareholder-cum-operator of Wealth Success, and an operator of Workbase Engineering respectively.
In return, Wealth Success was awarded four subcontracts worth $9.5 million, while two subcontracts valued at $13.7 million in total were signed with Workbase Engineering, the court was told.
Lai, 54, was earlier sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for his role in the case. So, 56, who was also charged by the ICAC, will face trial on November 2.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Marco Li, assisted by ICAC officer Kenny Wong.
Edmund Lau Kam-kee, 41, formerly employed by Barbican Construction Company Limited (Barbican), was found guilty of five counts of agent accepting an advantage, and one of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent.
In sentencing, Judge Chua Fi-lan said should the landship preventive measures project pose safety problems, a more severe jail sentence would be imposed.
The court heard that in June 2004, CEDD awarded to Barbican a $74 million contract for landslip preventive works for slopes in Tai Po and Yuen Long, with a contract period of around 30 months.
Barbican in turn subcontracted various parts of the slope maintenance works to other construction companies, including Fuk Shing Engineering Company (Fuk Shing), Wealth Success Construction Engineering Company Limited (Wealth Success), and Workbase Engine ering Limited (Workbase Engineering).
The defendant was then responsible for short-listing subcontractors for Barbican, supervising their works, and making recommendation for the payment of project fees.
The court heard that between June and August 2004, the defendant assisted Lai Kam-fuk, proprietor of Fuk Shing, in preparing a tender to bid for a subcontract of slope maintenance works.
The defendant solicited five per cent of the profits to be generated from the subcontract as a reward. Lai agreed to the deal.
In November 2004, Barbican accepted the tender, and entered a subcontract with Fuk Shing with an estimated project sum of $44 million.
As a result, the defendant accepted bribes totalling $100,000 from Lai.
The court heard that the defendant had, for the same reason, accepted a total of $120,000 and $200,000 from So Wing-shan, a major shareholder-cum-operator of Wealth Success, and an operator of Workbase Engineering respectively.
In return, Wealth Success was awarded four subcontracts worth $9.5 million, while two subcontracts valued at $13.7 million in total were signed with Workbase Engineering, the court was told.
Lai, 54, was earlier sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for his role in the case. So, 56, who was also charged by the ICAC, will face trial on November 2.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Marco Li, assisted by ICAC officer Kenny Wong.