Property agency boss guilty of offering $323,000 bribes for business
2014-1-9
A shareholder of a property agency, charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) convicted at the Kowloon City Magistracy of offering over $323,000 in bribes to an agent of another property agency over referral of clients.
Ryo Ng Ka-tat, 35, a beneficial shareholder of Delightful Property Agency Limited (Delightful), was found guilty of two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Magistrate Mr Abu Bakar bin Wahab adjourned the case until February 7 this year for sentence, pending background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail of $1,500.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was one of the shareholders of Delightful. Lam Ho-tan was a property agent of Midland Realty (Midland), which did not allow him to accept any advantages in relation to its business or refer its cli ents to other property agencies.
In August 2010, the defendant learnt from Lam that a client of Midland wanted to purchase a property in Tsimshatsui.
The defendant proposed that the property transaction be handled by Delightful and offered to pay Lam about 70 per cent of the commission Delightful received as a reward for referring the client to Delightful.
Lam eventually procured the transaction of the property at $6.68 million by the Midland client through Delightful. Delightful received $66,800 as commission.
On November 16, 2010, the defendant deposited a cheque for $45,260 issued by Delightful into the bank account of Lam’s younger brother. Lam then got the bribe money from his brother.
The court heard that on another occasion in September 2010, Lam referred another client of Midland to Delightful.
After purchasing another property at $40 million in Tsimshatsui, the client paid $400,000 in commission to Delightful.
On December 3, 2010, the defendant deposited a cheque for $278,500 into the bank account of Lam’s younger brother. Lam then took back the bribe money from his brother, the court was told.
Lam, 35, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to 9(1)(a) of the POBO. He will also be sentenced at the Kowloon City Magistracy on February 7.
Midland had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Liza Yip, assisted by ICAC officer David Ng.
Ryo Ng Ka-tat, 35, a beneficial shareholder of Delightful Property Agency Limited (Delightful), was found guilty of two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Magistrate Mr Abu Bakar bin Wahab adjourned the case until February 7 this year for sentence, pending background and community service order reports. The defendant was granted cash bail of $1,500.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was one of the shareholders of Delightful. Lam Ho-tan was a property agent of Midland Realty (Midland), which did not allow him to accept any advantages in relation to its business or refer its cli ents to other property agencies.
In August 2010, the defendant learnt from Lam that a client of Midland wanted to purchase a property in Tsimshatsui.
The defendant proposed that the property transaction be handled by Delightful and offered to pay Lam about 70 per cent of the commission Delightful received as a reward for referring the client to Delightful.
Lam eventually procured the transaction of the property at $6.68 million by the Midland client through Delightful. Delightful received $66,800 as commission.
On November 16, 2010, the defendant deposited a cheque for $45,260 issued by Delightful into the bank account of Lam’s younger brother. Lam then got the bribe money from his brother.
The court heard that on another occasion in September 2010, Lam referred another client of Midland to Delightful.
After purchasing another property at $40 million in Tsimshatsui, the client paid $400,000 in commission to Delightful.
On December 3, 2010, the defendant deposited a cheque for $278,500 into the bank account of Lam’s younger brother. Lam then took back the bribe money from his brother, the court was told.
Lam, 35, who was also charged by the ICAC, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to 9(1)(a) of the POBO. He will also be sentenced at the Kowloon City Magistracy on February 7.
Midland had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Liza Yip, assisted by ICAC officer David Ng.