Former managing director of fast food restaurant jailed for bribery and perversion
2009-5-6
The former managing director of a fast food restaurant, charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to an imprisonment of four years and five months at the District Court for taking about US$300,000 (HK$2.325 million) in illegal kickbacks from a corn supplier and asking the supplier to lie to investigators.
Lau Si-sing, 49, former managing director of McDonald’s Restaurants (Hong Kong) Limited (McDonald’s), was also ordered to pay a restitution of HK$2.325 million to his former employer.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng said it was a serious breach of trust for the defendant to commit the offences over a period of 18 months.
The judge also reprimanded the defendant for setting a bad example to the restaurant’s employees, many of whom were young people.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. He was acquitted of a similar bribery offence.
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 a total of about US$300,000 to a number of bank accounts upon the defendant’s instruction.
McDonald’s confirmed that between June 2005 and March 2007, the restaurant purchased about US$3 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 prohibited its employees from accepting advantages in relation to the restaurant’s business, the court was told.
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, former managing director of McDonald’s Restaurants (Hong Kong) Limited (McDonald’s), was also ordered to pay a restitution of HK$2.325 million to his former employer.
In sentencing, Deputy Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng said it was a serious breach of trust for the defendant to commit the offences over a period of 18 months.
The judge also reprimanded the defendant for setting a bad example to the restaurant’s employees, many of whom were young people.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice. He was acquitted of a similar bribery offence.
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 a total of about US$300,000 to a number of bank accounts upon the defendant’s instruction.
McDonald’s confirmed that between June 2005 and March 2007, the restaurant purchased about US$3 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 prohibited its employees from accepting advantages in relation to the restaurant’s business, the court was told.
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.