Managing director of fast food restaurant guilty of bribery and perversion
2009-4-15
The managing director of a fast food restaurant, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) convicted at the District Court of taking about $2.5 million in illegal kickbacks from a corn supplier and asking the supplier to lie to investigators.
Lau Si-sing, 49, managing director of McDonald’s Restaurants (Hong Kong) Limited (McDonald’s), was found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. The defendant was acquitted of a similar bribery offence.
Deputy Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng adjourned the case until May 6 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that the defendant and a director of a food company from Thailand paid a trip to Macao in mid 2005.
During the trip, the defendant suggested that the Thai supplier pay him rebates equivalent to 10 per cent of the sales amount of corns supplied to McDonald’s.
The supplier agreed as he believed that this was the way to do business with McDonald’s.
In June 2005, the defendant approved the food company to be a corn supplier of McDonald’s.
Between December 2005 and April 2007, the supplier remitted about $2.5 million to the bank account of the defendant or that of his wife.
McDonald’s confirmed that between June 2005 and March 2007, McDonald’s purchased over $25 million worth of corns from the food company, the court heard.
When the duo were arrested by ICAC officers on June 29, 2007, the defendant asked the supplier to falsely represent to law enforcement officers that the illegal rebates given to him were for their joint investment in properties on the Mainland, the court was told.
McDonald’s prohibits its employees from accepting advantages in relation to the restaurant’s business.
The management of McDonald’s rendered full cooperation to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Thomas Iu, assisted by ICAC officer Keith Kwok.
Lau Si-sing, 49, managing director of McDonald’s Restaurants (Hong Kong) Limited (McDonald’s), was found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. The defendant was acquitted of a similar bribery offence.
Deputy Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng adjourned the case until May 6 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The court heard that the defendant and a director of a food company from Thailand paid a trip to Macao in mid 2005.
During the trip, the defendant suggested that the Thai supplier pay him rebates equivalent to 10 per cent of the sales amount of corns supplied to McDonald’s.
The supplier agreed as he believed that this was the way to do business with McDonald’s.
In June 2005, the defendant approved the food company to be a corn supplier of McDonald’s.
Between December 2005 and April 2007, the supplier remitted about $2.5 million to the bank account of the defendant or that of his wife.
McDonald’s confirmed that between June 2005 and March 2007, McDonald’s purchased over $25 million worth of corns from the food company, the court heard.
When the duo were arrested by ICAC officers on June 29, 2007, the defendant asked the supplier to falsely represent to law enforcement officers that the illegal rebates given to him were for their joint investment in properties on the Mainland, the court was told.
McDonald’s prohibits its employees from accepting advantages in relation to the restaurant’s business.
The management of McDonald’s rendered full cooperation to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Thomas Iu, assisted by ICAC officer Keith Kwok.