Man jailed for bribery over renovation project
2019-11-18
A man was today (November 18) sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistracy after being convicted of bribing the chairlady of the incorporated owners (IO) of a residential building for securing a renovation project.
Ng Wan-kui, 45, was found guilty by Deputy Magistrate Ms Ng Mee-wah of one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the Competition Commission. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that Shiu Fung House was a residential building in Canton Road, Tai Kok Tsui. In June 2017, it was required to carry out relevant inspections under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme, and to conduct renovation project if necessary.
In mid-December 2017, the defendant visited the IO chairlady of Shiu Fung House at her office. He asked her to persuade other owners to vote for a company related to him as the contractor for the renovation project at an owners’ meeting.
Afterwards, the defendant sent a mobile phone message containing five orange-icons to the IO chairlady without giving any explanation, the court heard.
On December 28, 2017, the defendant visited the IO chairlady at her office again asking her to help the company related to him to be appointed as the contractor of the renovation project.
Upon the IO chairlady’s enquiry, the defendant explained that the five orange-icons represented a commission equivalent to five per cent of the contract sum of the renovation project. The IO chairlady refused to accept the offer.
The IO of Shiu Fung House had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Ma, assisted by ICAC officer Kenneth Choi.
Ng Wan-kui, 45, was found guilty by Deputy Magistrate Ms Ng Mee-wah of one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by the Competition Commission. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offence.
The court heard that Shiu Fung House was a residential building in Canton Road, Tai Kok Tsui. In June 2017, it was required to carry out relevant inspections under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and the Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme, and to conduct renovation project if necessary.
In mid-December 2017, the defendant visited the IO chairlady of Shiu Fung House at her office. He asked her to persuade other owners to vote for a company related to him as the contractor for the renovation project at an owners’ meeting.
Afterwards, the defendant sent a mobile phone message containing five orange-icons to the IO chairlady without giving any explanation, the court heard.
On December 28, 2017, the defendant visited the IO chairlady at her office again asking her to help the company related to him to be appointed as the contractor of the renovation project.
Upon the IO chairlady’s enquiry, the defendant explained that the five orange-icons represented a commission equivalent to five per cent of the contract sum of the renovation project. The IO chairlady refused to accept the offer.
The IO of Shiu Fung House had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Stephen Ma, assisted by ICAC officer Kenneth Choi.