Trio charged with $2.2m HKJC souvenir purchase orders fraud
2017-7-10
A former manager of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and two directors of a printing and production company have been charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud the HKJC of over $2.2 million worth of souvenir purchase orders in relation to the celebration of its 130th Anniversary.
Yim Sze-sum, 38, former manager of the HKJC; Carl Wong Chow, 57, and his daughter Cecilia Wong Chi-yan, 32, both directors and shareholders of Empire Printing & Production Specialist Limited (EPP), who were charged last Friday (July 7), face a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.
The defendants will appear in the Eastern Magistracy tomorrow (July 11) for transfer of the case to the District Court for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offence.
At the material time, Yim was the manager of the creative services team of the HKJC. In January 2014, the creative services team was tasked to design and oversee the production of souvenirs for the forthcoming celebration of the 130th Anniversary of the HKJC.
Carl Wong and Cecilia Wong were both directors and shareholders of EPP, which had been registered with the HKJC as a suitable supplier since 2010.
The charge alleges that between May 1 and September 30, 2014, Yim, Carl Wong and Cecilia Wong conspired together to defraud staff members of the HKJC by dishonestly:
• causing and inducing the staff members of the HKJC to register two other companies as the suppliers of the HKJC;
• concealing that Cecilia Wong was a director and shareholder of EPP;
• concealing that Carl Wong was the father of Cecilia Wong and that EPP and the two other companies were all subject to the control of Carl Wong;
• arranging and procuring by Yim that EPP and the two other companies competed in four procurement tender exercises conducted by the HKJC in preparation for the celebration of its 130th Anniversary; and
• causing and inducing the staff members of the HKJC to award five souvenir purchase orders to EPP and part with a total sum of over $2.2 million being the aggregate contract price of those purchase orders.
The HKJC has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance tomorrow.
Yim Sze-sum, 38, former manager of the HKJC; Carl Wong Chow, 57, and his daughter Cecilia Wong Chi-yan, 32, both directors and shareholders of Empire Printing & Production Specialist Limited (EPP), who were charged last Friday (July 7), face a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law.
The defendants will appear in the Eastern Magistracy tomorrow (July 11) for transfer of the case to the District Court for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offence.
At the material time, Yim was the manager of the creative services team of the HKJC. In January 2014, the creative services team was tasked to design and oversee the production of souvenirs for the forthcoming celebration of the 130th Anniversary of the HKJC.
Carl Wong and Cecilia Wong were both directors and shareholders of EPP, which had been registered with the HKJC as a suitable supplier since 2010.
The charge alleges that between May 1 and September 30, 2014, Yim, Carl Wong and Cecilia Wong conspired together to defraud staff members of the HKJC by dishonestly:
• causing and inducing the staff members of the HKJC to register two other companies as the suppliers of the HKJC;
• concealing that Cecilia Wong was a director and shareholder of EPP;
• concealing that Carl Wong was the father of Cecilia Wong and that EPP and the two other companies were all subject to the control of Carl Wong;
• arranging and procuring by Yim that EPP and the two other companies competed in four procurement tender exercises conducted by the HKJC in preparation for the celebration of its 130th Anniversary; and
• causing and inducing the staff members of the HKJC to award five souvenir purchase orders to EPP and part with a total sum of over $2.2 million being the aggregate contract price of those purchase orders.
The HKJC has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance tomorrow.