An executive chef of a Chinese restaurant, charged by the ICAC, admitted at Eastern Magistracy today (Thursday) that he had accepted $10,500 in bribes from a dried seafood supplier for placing purchase orders with the latter.

Leung Kwan, 39, employed by GP Dynastie Limited (GPD), pleaded guilty to two counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).

Deputy Magistrate Ho Wai-yang adjourned the case until August 2 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.

The magistrate said POBO offences were serious in nature and warned that an immediate custodial sentence might be meted out even though the bribe money involved was not substantial.

At the material times, the defendant was employed by GPD as an executive chef of GP Dynastie Banquet Hall (GPDBH). Amongst other duties, he was responsible for selecting food suppliers and placing orders with them.

Wing Shing Marine Products (Wing Shing) was a dried seafood supplier of GPDBH.

Upon the defendant’s recommendation, GPDBH placed purchase orders of shark fin, canned abalone and dried abalone with Wing Shing between November 2010 and April 2011.

The court heard that on two occasions in June 2011, the defendant respectively accepted $500 and $10,000 in cash from the operator of Wing Shing as rewards for recommending products of Wing Shing to GPDBH, as well as placing purchase orders with Wing Shin g.

GPD prohibited its employees from accepting advantages from suppliers in relation to the company’s business.

GPD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC in the investigation.

The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Public Prosecutor Felix Tam, assisted by ICAC officer Tommy Lui.