Ex-head chef of Japanese ramen shops charged by ICAC with conspiracy to steal
2021-12-6
Following the prosecution of 10 former employees of two ramen shops for allegedly conspiring to steal cash proceeds from cash tills and committing bribery for conniving at the misappropriation, the ICAC last Friday (December 3) further charged a former head chef involved in the scheme with conspiracy to steal.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint which led to the prosecution of 10 former managers, chefs, waitresses, etc. of Bright Mark Restaurant Limited (Bright Mark) earlier this year. Upon further legal advice sought from the Department of Justice, the Commission further charged a former head chef of Bright Mark last Friday.
Wong Shing-tat, 33, faces three counts of conspiracy to steal, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 7) for the case to be transferred to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, Bright Mark operated a number of Japanese ramen shops under two brand names – Bari-Uma Ramen and Fu-Unmaru. Wong was the head chef of Bright Mark. He was responsible for managing the kitchens of all branches operated under the two brand names.
The three charges allege that between August 2017 and November 2018, Wong separately conspired with nine of the above former employees of Bright Mark to steal cash from the cash tills of the Tseung Kwan O branch of Bari-Uma Ramen and the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of Fu-Unmaru.
It is suspected that the scheme involved improper handling of cash coupons and meal orders made by customers. Cash proceeds totalling about $190,000 was allegedly stolen from the above two branches.
The 10 former employees of Bright Mark earlier charged by the ICAC are assistant operations manager Chan Ka-tai; shop manager Ng Wai-to; captains Lam Ting-fung and Lam Wing-sze; senior chefs Yu Hoi-lun and Yu Sai-ming; chefs Lui Kin-shing and Man Ka-sing; waitress Lau Sui-lin; and part-time waitress Ma Kwan-tung.
They face a total of 12 charges – three of conspiracy to steal, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; seven of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and two of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO. They will enter a plea at the District Court on February 7 next year.
Bright Mark has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint which led to the prosecution of 10 former managers, chefs, waitresses, etc. of Bright Mark Restaurant Limited (Bright Mark) earlier this year. Upon further legal advice sought from the Department of Justice, the Commission further charged a former head chef of Bright Mark last Friday.
Wong Shing-tat, 33, faces three counts of conspiracy to steal, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance in the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 7) for the case to be transferred to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, Bright Mark operated a number of Japanese ramen shops under two brand names – Bari-Uma Ramen and Fu-Unmaru. Wong was the head chef of Bright Mark. He was responsible for managing the kitchens of all branches operated under the two brand names.
The three charges allege that between August 2017 and November 2018, Wong separately conspired with nine of the above former employees of Bright Mark to steal cash from the cash tills of the Tseung Kwan O branch of Bari-Uma Ramen and the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of Fu-Unmaru.
It is suspected that the scheme involved improper handling of cash coupons and meal orders made by customers. Cash proceeds totalling about $190,000 was allegedly stolen from the above two branches.
The 10 former employees of Bright Mark earlier charged by the ICAC are assistant operations manager Chan Ka-tai; shop manager Ng Wai-to; captains Lam Ting-fung and Lam Wing-sze; senior chefs Yu Hoi-lun and Yu Sai-ming; chefs Lui Kin-shing and Man Ka-sing; waitress Lau Sui-lin; and part-time waitress Ma Kwan-tung.
They face a total of 12 charges – three of conspiracy to steal, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; seven of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and two of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO. They will enter a plea at the District Court on February 7 next year.
Bright Mark has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.