Former hotel staff jailed for accepting 'tea money’ from taxi drivers
2010-11-15
Five former employees of Imperial Hotel, charged by the ICAC, were today (Monday) sent to jail for accepting “tea money” totalling over $60,000 from taxi drivers for referring hotel guests to hire their services.
Kenny Mo Kwai-kwok, 49, Kwok Siu-kei, 34, both former bell and security officers; and Simon Hui Chun-pang, 31, a former security guard, each received a jail term of six weeks.
Chau Ling, 33, a former bell and security officer; and Wong Chun-kui, 39, a former bell and security captain, were each jailed for two months.
The defendants were also ordered to make a restitution ranging from $5,400 to $15,400 to the hotel.
In sentencing, Kowloon City Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on said the bribery offences committed by the defendants had undermined the reputation of the hotel.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty in two cases to a total of eight counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendants were deployed at the front office of the hotel.
Apart from maintaining security at the hotel lobby, the defendants were also responsible for handling luggage and arranging transportation for guests.
Whenever guests requested taxi service, the defendants were required to offer assistance by accompanying them to Nathan Road outside the hotel to fetch taxis available for hiring.
The court heard that instead of following the instructions, the defendants called taxi drivers, with whom they were acquainted, to provide the service and asked the guests to wait at the hotel lobby.
The defendants would accept $20 to $60 as “tea money” from the taxi drivers for each referral.
Between May 2005 and November 2009, Mo, Kwok and Hui received “tea money” totalling $30,000 from taxi drivers, while Chau and Wong took a total of $30,800 from taxi drivers, the court was told.
Yip Ying-wai, 33, a former assistant front office manager of the hotel, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier admitted one count of conspiring together with Mo, Kwok and Hui to accept a total of $1,000 in “tea money” from taxi drivers. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, and ordered to make a restitution of $1,000 to the hotel.
The senior management of Imperial Hotel had rendered full assistance to the ICAC in its investigation.
The prosecution in the above two cases was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Vivien Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Tommy Lui.
Kenny Mo Kwai-kwok, 49, Kwok Siu-kei, 34, both former bell and security officers; and Simon Hui Chun-pang, 31, a former security guard, each received a jail term of six weeks.
Chau Ling, 33, a former bell and security officer; and Wong Chun-kui, 39, a former bell and security captain, were each jailed for two months.
The defendants were also ordered to make a restitution ranging from $5,400 to $15,400 to the hotel.
In sentencing, Kowloon City Magistrate Mr Anthony Kwok Kai-on said the bribery offences committed by the defendants had undermined the reputation of the hotel.
The defendants earlier pleaded guilty in two cases to a total of eight counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The court heard that at the time of the offences, the defendants were deployed at the front office of the hotel.
Apart from maintaining security at the hotel lobby, the defendants were also responsible for handling luggage and arranging transportation for guests.
Whenever guests requested taxi service, the defendants were required to offer assistance by accompanying them to Nathan Road outside the hotel to fetch taxis available for hiring.
The court heard that instead of following the instructions, the defendants called taxi drivers, with whom they were acquainted, to provide the service and asked the guests to wait at the hotel lobby.
The defendants would accept $20 to $60 as “tea money” from the taxi drivers for each referral.
Between May 2005 and November 2009, Mo, Kwok and Hui received “tea money” totalling $30,000 from taxi drivers, while Chau and Wong took a total of $30,800 from taxi drivers, the court was told.
Yip Ying-wai, 33, a former assistant front office manager of the hotel, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier admitted one count of conspiring together with Mo, Kwok and Hui to accept a total of $1,000 in “tea money” from taxi drivers. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, and ordered to make a restitution of $1,000 to the hotel.
The senior management of Imperial Hotel had rendered full assistance to the ICAC in its investigation.
The prosecution in the above two cases was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Vivien Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Tommy Lui.