33 months in jail for accepting HK$1.21m bribes
2012-3-12
A former senior merchandise manager of a garment trading company, charged by the ICAC, was today (Monday) sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment at the District Court for accepting over HK$1.21 million in bribes for awarding children’s wear orders to suppliers.
Doris Au Yeung Lai-hung, 45, formerly employed by Li & Fung (Trading) Limited (Li & Fung), was also ordered by Deputy Judge Don So Man-lung to pay over HK$1.21 million as restitution to her former employer.
In sentencing, the judge said the defendant was the author of her own disgrace and should be held responsible for the offences she committed.
The judge added that the starting point of 36 months was reduced to 33 months, taking into account her clear record only.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material times, the defendant was employed by Li & Fung as the person-in-charge of its merchandising team to handle a client in the United States.
The defendant was responsible for placing purchase orders of the client with garment suppliers, including Sun Xinfa Arts Manufacture Limited (Sun Xinfa) and Shun Fat Arts Manufacture Limited (Shun Fat).
In April 2008, a director of Sun Xinfa and Shun Fat came to Hong Kong and met the defendant.
Subsequent to the meeting, the director told an accounting clerk that she would give her money to deposit into two bank accounts of the defendant in return for purchase orders from Li & Fung.
The court heard that upon the instruction of the director, the accounting clerk withdrew a total of over HK$1.41 million from the bank accounts of Sun Xinfa and Shun Fat between April 2008 and July 2010.
Out of the corrupt payments of HK$1.41 million, over HK$1.21 million was deposited into the bank accounts of the defendant by the accounting clerk on six occasions, and a sum of HK$200,000 was seized by the ICAC.
ICAC enquiries revealed that between 2008 and July 2010, the merchandising team of the defendant placed a total of 1,240 purchase orders of the said client worth US$8 million with Sun Xinfa and Shun Fat.
Li & Fung prohibited its employees from soliciting and accepting advantages in relation to the company’s business, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Terence Wai, assisted by ICAC officer Jenny Chau.
Doris Au Yeung Lai-hung, 45, formerly employed by Li & Fung (Trading) Limited (Li & Fung), was also ordered by Deputy Judge Don So Man-lung to pay over HK$1.21 million as restitution to her former employer.
In sentencing, the judge said the defendant was the author of her own disgrace and should be held responsible for the offences she committed.
The judge added that the starting point of 36 months was reduced to 33 months, taking into account her clear record only.
The defendant was earlier found guilty of one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material times, the defendant was employed by Li & Fung as the person-in-charge of its merchandising team to handle a client in the United States.
The defendant was responsible for placing purchase orders of the client with garment suppliers, including Sun Xinfa Arts Manufacture Limited (Sun Xinfa) and Shun Fat Arts Manufacture Limited (Shun Fat).
In April 2008, a director of Sun Xinfa and Shun Fat came to Hong Kong and met the defendant.
Subsequent to the meeting, the director told an accounting clerk that she would give her money to deposit into two bank accounts of the defendant in return for purchase orders from Li & Fung.
The court heard that upon the instruction of the director, the accounting clerk withdrew a total of over HK$1.41 million from the bank accounts of Sun Xinfa and Shun Fat between April 2008 and July 2010.
Out of the corrupt payments of HK$1.41 million, over HK$1.21 million was deposited into the bank accounts of the defendant by the accounting clerk on six occasions, and a sum of HK$200,000 was seized by the ICAC.
ICAC enquiries revealed that between 2008 and July 2010, the merchandising team of the defendant placed a total of 1,240 purchase orders of the said client worth US$8 million with Sun Xinfa and Shun Fat.
Li & Fung prohibited its employees from soliciting and accepting advantages in relation to the company’s business, the court was told.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Terence Wai, assisted by ICAC officer Jenny Chau.