Three persons were today (Tuesday) charged by the ICAC for their alleged involvement in a scam to defraud the Government of over $3 million under a land resumption project for drainage improvement work in Tai Po.

Yim Tung-hoi, 55, a small house developer; Vincent Li Wan-fong, 60, unemployed; and Lau Kam-ying, 37, a Principal Solicitor of Peter Lau & Co Solicitors, were jointly charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud.

The defendants will appear at the Eastern Magistracy on Thursday (August 20), pending transfer to the District Court.

The case originated from a corruption report. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the alleged fraudulent scam.

The charge alleges that between December 2004 and October 2007, the defendants conspired together and with other persons to defraud the Tai Po District Land Office (the Land Office) of compensation payments for 12 sections of land in Tai Po under a land r esumption project.

The defendants allegedly made false representations to the Land Office that China Group Global Limited (CGG), being the registered owner of the said 12 sections of land, had acquired the said sections of land as a bona fide purchaser for valuable consider ation.

They are further alleged of concealing from the Land Office that Howin Industrial Limited (Howin) had beneficial interest in the said sections of land.

ICAC inquiries revealed that Yim and Li were former directors cum shareholders of Howin, a small house developer which was wound up in 2001.

Enquiries revealed that Yim and Li had allegedly agreed with Lau to arrange for the incorporation of CGG with a view to collecting compensations by the Government.

The compensation allegedly swindled by the defendants would amount to over $3 million.

The defendants were granted ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Thursday.