Ex-manager gets 9 months for deceiving $800,000 procurement orders
2010-9-27
A former assistant manager of TVB Pay Vision Limited (TVB Pay Vision), charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment at Kwun Tong Magistracy for deceiving TVB Pay Vision into awarding 43 procurement orders worth over $800,000 to two companies controlled by him.
Yuen Chi-wai, 33, a former assistant manager of the Administration & Purchasing Department of TVB Pay Vision, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. The prosecution offered no evidence to a similar offence against him.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Joseph To Ho-shing remarked that it was imperative for Hong Kong as a commercial society to maintain a level playing field in respect of tendering.
The magistrate said a custodial sentence was imposed on the defendant in view of his breach of trust. A suspended jail term was considered inappropriate as no exceptional circumstances were warranted, the magistrate added.
Li Hiu-ting, 27, a receptionist, who was also charged by the ICAC for her role in the case, admitted one count of fraud. The prosecution offered no evidence to two similar offences against her.
The magistrate adjourned her case until October 18 for sentence, pending probation and community service order reports. She was granted cash bail of $5,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above fraud offences.
The court heard that in May 2005, Yuen joined Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited, which later changed its name to TVB Pay Vision.
Three years later, Yuen was promoted to the post of assistant manager. Among his duties was to source potential suppliers for TVB Pay Vision.
The court heard that in January 2006, Li, upon request of Yuen, set up Li Sun Radio Company (Li Sun). In order to conceal his real identity as the real operator of Li Sun, Yuen asked Li, his then girlfriend, to become the registered owner of Li Sun.
Between January 2006 and September 2007, Li Sun obtained 13 procurement orders worth over $359,000 from TVB Pay Vision. Under the orders, Li Sun provided cables, wires, DVDs and other office supplies to TVB Pay Vision.
The court also heard that in October 2007, Yuen set up Wo Luen Office Supplies Company (Wo Luen) .
Between September 2007 and November 2008, Wo Luen obtained 30 procurement orders worth more than $446,000 to provide TVB Pay Vision with printing services, cables, stationery and manual work services.
Had TVB Pay Vision known that Yuen had financial interests in Li Sun and Wo Luen, TVB Pay Vision would not have allowed Yuen to take part in the procurement exercise, the court was told.
TVB Pay Vision had provided full assistance to the ICAC during the course of investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Fong, assisted by ICAC officer Angel Lui.
Yuen Chi-wai, 33, a former assistant manager of the Administration & Purchasing Department of TVB Pay Vision, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. The prosecution offered no evidence to a similar offence against him.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Joseph To Ho-shing remarked that it was imperative for Hong Kong as a commercial society to maintain a level playing field in respect of tendering.
The magistrate said a custodial sentence was imposed on the defendant in view of his breach of trust. A suspended jail term was considered inappropriate as no exceptional circumstances were warranted, the magistrate added.
Li Hiu-ting, 27, a receptionist, who was also charged by the ICAC for her role in the case, admitted one count of fraud. The prosecution offered no evidence to two similar offences against her.
The magistrate adjourned her case until October 18 for sentence, pending probation and community service order reports. She was granted cash bail of $5,000.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above fraud offences.
The court heard that in May 2005, Yuen joined Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited, which later changed its name to TVB Pay Vision.
Three years later, Yuen was promoted to the post of assistant manager. Among his duties was to source potential suppliers for TVB Pay Vision.
The court heard that in January 2006, Li, upon request of Yuen, set up Li Sun Radio Company (Li Sun). In order to conceal his real identity as the real operator of Li Sun, Yuen asked Li, his then girlfriend, to become the registered owner of Li Sun.
Between January 2006 and September 2007, Li Sun obtained 13 procurement orders worth over $359,000 from TVB Pay Vision. Under the orders, Li Sun provided cables, wires, DVDs and other office supplies to TVB Pay Vision.
The court also heard that in October 2007, Yuen set up Wo Luen Office Supplies Company (Wo Luen) .
Between September 2007 and November 2008, Wo Luen obtained 30 procurement orders worth more than $446,000 to provide TVB Pay Vision with printing services, cables, stationery and manual work services.
Had TVB Pay Vision known that Yuen had financial interests in Li Sun and Wo Luen, TVB Pay Vision would not have allowed Yuen to take part in the procurement exercise, the court was told.
TVB Pay Vision had provided full assistance to the ICAC during the course of investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Fong, assisted by ICAC officer Angel Lui.