Duo charged with bribery and fraud over carpark space leasing
2021-7-28
The ICAC yesterday (July 27) charged a former employee of a property agency with bribery and a former employee of a property management company with fraud in relation to carpark space leasing matters in an industrial building.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon legal advice sought from the Department of Justice, the two defendants were charged in separate cases.
At the material time, Wah Sing Property Management Limited (Wah Sing Property Management) provided property management services to Veristrong Industrial Centre which had over 100 carpark spaces.
In July 2018, a tenant of the industrial centre approached the management office for renting a carpark space.
In the first case, Mann Gavin Quentin, 64, former area superintendent of Wah Sing Property Management, and person-in-charge of the management office of Veristrong Industrial Centre at the material time, faces one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The charge alleges that between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, Mann falsely represented to the aforesaid tenant that he was authorised by the owner of a carpark space in the industrial building to handle all its leasing related matters, and with intent to defraud, induced the tenant to pay him rental and related payment totalling $36,000, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to the tenant.
In the second case, Lam Wai-ping, 68, former sales officer of Wah Ha Enterprises Limited (Wah Ha Enterprises), who was responsible for leasing another 10 odds carpark spaces in Veristrong Industrial Centre, faces one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The charge alleges that on an unknown day in August 2019, Lam, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, solicited $3,000 from the aforesaid tenant, as an inducement to or reward for showing favour to the tenant in relation to the leasing of a carpark space in the industrial building.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance in the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 29) for plea.
Wah Sing Property Management and Wah Ha Enterprises have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon legal advice sought from the Department of Justice, the two defendants were charged in separate cases.
At the material time, Wah Sing Property Management Limited (Wah Sing Property Management) provided property management services to Veristrong Industrial Centre which had over 100 carpark spaces.
In July 2018, a tenant of the industrial centre approached the management office for renting a carpark space.
In the first case, Mann Gavin Quentin, 64, former area superintendent of Wah Sing Property Management, and person-in-charge of the management office of Veristrong Industrial Centre at the material time, faces one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The charge alleges that between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, Mann falsely represented to the aforesaid tenant that he was authorised by the owner of a carpark space in the industrial building to handle all its leasing related matters, and with intent to defraud, induced the tenant to pay him rental and related payment totalling $36,000, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to the tenant.
In the second case, Lam Wai-ping, 68, former sales officer of Wah Ha Enterprises Limited (Wah Ha Enterprises), who was responsible for leasing another 10 odds carpark spaces in Veristrong Industrial Centre, faces one count of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The charge alleges that on an unknown day in August 2019, Lam, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, solicited $3,000 from the aforesaid tenant, as an inducement to or reward for showing favour to the tenant in relation to the leasing of a carpark space in the industrial building.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance in the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 29) for plea.
Wah Sing Property Management and Wah Ha Enterprises have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases.