Ex-staff of FEHD cleansing contractor jailed for exploiting wages from workers
2008-1-3
Three former staff members of a cleansing contractor of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) sentenced to various jail terms at the District Court for exploiting wages totalling about $177,000 fr om cleansing workers.
Leung Ting-chong, 38, a former cleansing worker of Polyking Services Limited (Polyking), received a jail term of 13 and a half months.
Co-defendants Leung Pikul, 52, a former cleansing foreman of Polyking, was jailed for two months, suspended for one year, while Wong Sau-chun, 59, another former cleansing foreman of Polyking, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for one year.
In sentencing, Judge Merinda Chow said Leung Ting-chong deserved a custodial sentence as he was the mastermind of the scam. The judge added that suspended sentences were given to the co-defendants as they had played relatively minor roles.
Leung Ting-chong earlier admitted three counts of conspiracy to steal, while Leung Pikul pleaded guilty to four counts of theft. Wong Sau-chun was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to steal after trial.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that Polyking was contracted by FEHD to provide cleansing services to four markets on Hong Kong Island.
Under the contract, Polyking was required to pay a minimum monthly wage of $5,081 to its cleansing workers.
At the time of the offences, Leung Tin-chong was the cleansing worker of Polyking.
On the instruction of Leung Ting-chong, Leung Pikul and Wong had asked the cleansing workers under their command to return $800 to $1,000 of their monthly wages purportedly to Polyking.
In fact, Leung Pikul and Wong handed the money to Leung Ting-chong. In return, Leung Ting-chong did not deduct the wages of Leung Pikul and Wong.
Leung Ting-chong also instructed Leung Pikul and Wong to tell the workers to lie to FEHD that they were paid the minimum wages.
Between September 2004 and October 2005, Leung Ting-chong obtained through Wong about $80,000 in wages exploited from 10 cleansing workers employed at Shau Kei Wan Market.
Through a supervisor of North Point Market, he obtained about $58,000 in wages exploited from five cleansing workers employed at Sai Wan Ho Market and North Point Market.
Also, through Leung Pikul, he obtained about $39,000 in wages exploited from four cleansing workers employed at Sai Wan Ho Market, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Lisa Remedios, assisted by ICAC officer Alfred Chan.
Leung Ting-chong, 38, a former cleansing worker of Polyking Services Limited (Polyking), received a jail term of 13 and a half months.
Co-defendants Leung Pikul, 52, a former cleansing foreman of Polyking, was jailed for two months, suspended for one year, while Wong Sau-chun, 59, another former cleansing foreman of Polyking, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for one year.
In sentencing, Judge Merinda Chow said Leung Ting-chong deserved a custodial sentence as he was the mastermind of the scam. The judge added that suspended sentences were given to the co-defendants as they had played relatively minor roles.
Leung Ting-chong earlier admitted three counts of conspiracy to steal, while Leung Pikul pleaded guilty to four counts of theft. Wong Sau-chun was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to steal after trial.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that Polyking was contracted by FEHD to provide cleansing services to four markets on Hong Kong Island.
Under the contract, Polyking was required to pay a minimum monthly wage of $5,081 to its cleansing workers.
At the time of the offences, Leung Tin-chong was the cleansing worker of Polyking.
On the instruction of Leung Ting-chong, Leung Pikul and Wong had asked the cleansing workers under their command to return $800 to $1,000 of their monthly wages purportedly to Polyking.
In fact, Leung Pikul and Wong handed the money to Leung Ting-chong. In return, Leung Ting-chong did not deduct the wages of Leung Pikul and Wong.
Leung Ting-chong also instructed Leung Pikul and Wong to tell the workers to lie to FEHD that they were paid the minimum wages.
Between September 2004 and October 2005, Leung Ting-chong obtained through Wong about $80,000 in wages exploited from 10 cleansing workers employed at Shau Kei Wan Market.
Through a supervisor of North Point Market, he obtained about $58,000 in wages exploited from five cleansing workers employed at Sai Wan Ho Market and North Point Market.
Also, through Leung Pikul, he obtained about $39,000 in wages exploited from four cleansing workers employed at Sai Wan Ho Market, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Lisa Remedios, assisted by ICAC officer Alfred Chan.