Four hotel staff jailed for bribery over referral of guests to tailor shop
2008-10-9
Four former employees of a hotel, charged by the ICAC, were today (Thursday) each sentenced to two months’ imprisonment at Kowloon City Magistracy for conspiracy to accept advantages for referring the hotel’s guests to patronise a tailor shop.
Wong Hing-cheung, 60, Yeung Wing-wai, 32, both former guest relations agents of The Marco Polo Gateway (the hotel); and Cheng Chi-chiu, 59, and Leung Siu-ho, 45, both former bell captains of the hotel, were also ordered to pay $1,000 each in restitution t o the hotel.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agents conspiring to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Ivy Chui Yee-mei said a custodial sentence must be imposed on the defendants as the offence committed by them was serious.
Also charged in connection with the case was Pan Wai-man, 43, former guest relations supervisor of the hotel. He was yesterday sentenced to three months’ imprisonment after having been found guilty earlier of the same offence, and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the hotel.
The court heard that on various occasions between mid 2005 and January 2007, Wong, Cheng, Leung and Yeung, at the instigation of their supervisor, referred hotel guests to patronise Baron Kay’s Tailor.
In return, employees of the tailor shop gave illegal commissions to the supervisor, contained in a white envelope, at irregular intervals as rewards. The sums were shared among Wong, the supervisor, Cheng, Leung, Yeung and other staff.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendants admitted that they had each accepted a total of about $1,000 in illegal commissions for referring the hotel’s guests to the tailor shop.
The hotel prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to the hotel’s business, the court was told.
The hotel offered full cooperation to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kelly Shui, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Leung.
Wong Hing-cheung, 60, Yeung Wing-wai, 32, both former guest relations agents of The Marco Polo Gateway (the hotel); and Cheng Chi-chiu, 59, and Leung Siu-ho, 45, both former bell captains of the hotel, were also ordered to pay $1,000 each in restitution t o the hotel.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agents conspiring to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Ivy Chui Yee-mei said a custodial sentence must be imposed on the defendants as the offence committed by them was serious.
Also charged in connection with the case was Pan Wai-man, 43, former guest relations supervisor of the hotel. He was yesterday sentenced to three months’ imprisonment after having been found guilty earlier of the same offence, and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the hotel.
The court heard that on various occasions between mid 2005 and January 2007, Wong, Cheng, Leung and Yeung, at the instigation of their supervisor, referred hotel guests to patronise Baron Kay’s Tailor.
In return, employees of the tailor shop gave illegal commissions to the supervisor, contained in a white envelope, at irregular intervals as rewards. The sums were shared among Wong, the supervisor, Cheng, Leung, Yeung and other staff.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendants admitted that they had each accepted a total of about $1,000 in illegal commissions for referring the hotel’s guests to the tailor shop.
The hotel prohibited its staff from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to the hotel’s business, the court was told.
The hotel offered full cooperation to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kelly Shui, assisted by ICAC officer Daniel Leung.