Cruise company director jailed for accepting $1m bribes
2008-1-30
A director of a cruise company, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to 45 months’ imprisonment at the District Court for accepting bribes totalling about $1 million from operators of three transportation companies for awarding business to the latter.
Tang Kwong-chuen, 45, director (port and embarkation) of Star Cruises (HK) Limited (Star Cruises), was today found guilty of four counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Albert Wong Sung-hau said a custodial sentence must be imposed on the defendant as the corruption offences committed by him were serious and constituted a breach of trust.
The Judge added that the defendant’s corrupt act, which had gone on for a lengthy period, was detrimental to the image of Hong Kong.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was responsible for awarding contracts to transportation companies.
Between November 5, 1999 and December 31, 2004, the defendant accepted a total of $200,000 from an operator of Sky Win Investment Limited, a transportation company.
The defendant accepted a monthly bribe of about $11,000 from an operator of Dynamic Launch & Marine Service Limited, another transportation company, between mid 2004 and December 31, 2006.
The defendant also accepted from an operator of Park Wing Transportation Company Limited a sum of about $200,000 to $300,000 between January 2000 and December 2004, and a monthly bribe of $15,000 from late 2005 until July 9, 2007.
In return, the defendant awarded transportation orders to those companies for providing transportation services for staff members of Star Cruises.
The court heard that the bribes accepted by the defendant amounted to about $1 million.
Star Cruises prohibited its staff from soliciting and accepting advantages in relation to the company’s business, the court was told.
Star Cruises rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Walter Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Wilson Sim.
Tang Kwong-chuen, 45, director (port and embarkation) of Star Cruises (HK) Limited (Star Cruises), was today found guilty of four counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Albert Wong Sung-hau said a custodial sentence must be imposed on the defendant as the corruption offences committed by him were serious and constituted a breach of trust.
The Judge added that the defendant’s corrupt act, which had gone on for a lengthy period, was detrimental to the image of Hong Kong.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendant was responsible for awarding contracts to transportation companies.
Between November 5, 1999 and December 31, 2004, the defendant accepted a total of $200,000 from an operator of Sky Win Investment Limited, a transportation company.
The defendant accepted a monthly bribe of about $11,000 from an operator of Dynamic Launch & Marine Service Limited, another transportation company, between mid 2004 and December 31, 2006.
The defendant also accepted from an operator of Park Wing Transportation Company Limited a sum of about $200,000 to $300,000 between January 2000 and December 2004, and a monthly bribe of $15,000 from late 2005 until July 9, 2007.
In return, the defendant awarded transportation orders to those companies for providing transportation services for staff members of Star Cruises.
The court heard that the bribes accepted by the defendant amounted to about $1 million.
Star Cruises prohibited its staff from soliciting and accepting advantages in relation to the company’s business, the court was told.
Star Cruises rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Walter Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Wilson Sim.