Chefs jailed for accepting bribes over frozen food supplies
2008-11-7
Two chefs of two Western restaurants, charged by the ICAC, were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at Eastern Magistracy today (Friday) for accepting bribes from a frozen food supplier as rewards for placing food orders with the latter.
Tam Chi-hung, 32, a head chef of Caramba Mexican Cantina (Caramba), and Chan Man-wai, 47, an executive chef of Coyote Bar & Grill (Coyote), had each pleaded guilty earlier to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Pr evention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Garry Tallentire noted that in view of the seriousness of the offences, custodial sentences were meted out to the defendants to serve as a deterrent.
The court heard that Tam and Chan were responsible for ordering food with various suppliers for their respective restaurants.
In 2000, Tam was approached by the operator of Candie’s Food Supplies Limited (Candie’s), Gordon Chau Yau-yu, who offered to Tam rebates equivalent to five per cent of the total value of purchase orders placed with Candie’s.
The court also heard that between August 2000 and April this year, Tam had accepted $110,000 in rebates from Chau.
Chan also accepted the five per cent rebates from Chau between May 2005 and May this year for the similar reason.
The purchase orders placed with Candie’s by Coyote were valued on the average of about $20,000 and $40,000 per month, the court was told.
Meanwhile, two chefs of two other restaurants admitted having accepted rebates for ordering food when they appeared in Eastern Magistracy today (Friday).
Lai Hing-min, 38, a head chef of Que Pasa Tequila Bar & Cantina, pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage; while Sin Yiu-ki, 32, a head chef of BB’s Bistro, admitted two similar offences.
The court heard that since January 2003, Lai had accepted from Chau rebates equivalent to five per cent of the total value of purchase orders placed with Candie’s. On the last occasion when they met on May 5 this year, Lai had received from Chau $2,000.
Sin had accepted a total of about $4,000 from Chau between April and May 2008 for the same reason, the court was told.
Magistrate Mr Tallentire adjourned the case until November 21, 2008 for sentence, and remanded Lai and Sin in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The prosecution in the above two cases was today represented by ICAC officer Ricky Cheuk.
Tam Chi-hung, 32, a head chef of Caramba Mexican Cantina (Caramba), and Chan Man-wai, 47, an executive chef of Coyote Bar & Grill (Coyote), had each pleaded guilty earlier to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Pr evention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Garry Tallentire noted that in view of the seriousness of the offences, custodial sentences were meted out to the defendants to serve as a deterrent.
The court heard that Tam and Chan were responsible for ordering food with various suppliers for their respective restaurants.
In 2000, Tam was approached by the operator of Candie’s Food Supplies Limited (Candie’s), Gordon Chau Yau-yu, who offered to Tam rebates equivalent to five per cent of the total value of purchase orders placed with Candie’s.
The court also heard that between August 2000 and April this year, Tam had accepted $110,000 in rebates from Chau.
Chan also accepted the five per cent rebates from Chau between May 2005 and May this year for the similar reason.
The purchase orders placed with Candie’s by Coyote were valued on the average of about $20,000 and $40,000 per month, the court was told.
Meanwhile, two chefs of two other restaurants admitted having accepted rebates for ordering food when they appeared in Eastern Magistracy today (Friday).
Lai Hing-min, 38, a head chef of Que Pasa Tequila Bar & Cantina, pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage; while Sin Yiu-ki, 32, a head chef of BB’s Bistro, admitted two similar offences.
The court heard that since January 2003, Lai had accepted from Chau rebates equivalent to five per cent of the total value of purchase orders placed with Candie’s. On the last occasion when they met on May 5 this year, Lai had received from Chau $2,000.
Sin had accepted a total of about $4,000 from Chau between April and May 2008 for the same reason, the court was told.
Magistrate Mr Tallentire adjourned the case until November 21, 2008 for sentence, and remanded Lai and Sin in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The prosecution in the above two cases was today represented by ICAC officer Ricky Cheuk.