Seven among 11 charged by ICAC admit bribery and theft over Japanese ramen shops’ proceeds
2022-2-7
Seven former employees of two Japanese ramen shops, who were among 11 charged by the ICAC, today (February 7) admitted at the District Court that they had conspired together to steal cash proceeds totalling about $190,000 from cash tills and committed bribery for conniving at the misappropriation.
The seven defendants, all formerly employed by Bright Mark Restaurant Limited (Bright Mark), were assistant operations manager Chan Ka-tai, 42; shop manager Ng Wai-to, 28; captains Lam Ting-fung and Lam Wing-sze, respectively 28, and, 26; senior chefs Yu Hoi-lun and Yu Sai-ming, both 25; and chef Lui Kin-shing, 22.
They pleaded guilty to 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.
Judge Mr Edmond Lee Chun-man adjourned the case to December 8 for sentence and granted the defendants cash bail.
At the material time, Bright Mark operated a number of ramen shops in Hong Kong under two brand names—Bari-Uma Ramen and Fu-Unmaru. According to Bright Mark’s policy, food orders made by customers must be input into a computer system. Staff members were not allowed to place verbal food orders with kitchen staff.
The court heard that the defendants took part in a misappropriation scheme involving improper handling of cash coupons and meal orders made by customers, and committed bribery for conniving at their stealing of cash proceeds totalling about $190,000 from the Tseung Kwan O branch of Bari-Uma Ramen and the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of Fu-Unmaru.
At the Tseung Kwan O branch of Bari-Uma Ramen, shop manager Ng Wai-to, captain Lam Ting-fung, senior chefs Yu Hoi-lun and Yu Sai-ming and chef Lui Kin-shing had conspired together to steal cash proceeds totalling over $150,000 from the cash till between August 2017 and November 2018.
Captain Lam Ting-fung had also offered bribes totalling $6,000 to a then head chef of Bright Mark for conniving at the stealing and offered bribes totalling $9,000 to chef Lui Kin-shing for complying with verbal food orders made to kitchen staff of the branch.
At the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of Fu-Unmaru, shop manager Ng Wai-to and captain Lam Wing-sze had conspired together to steal cash proceeds totalling over $34,000 from the cash till between August and November 2018. Meanwhile, assistant operations manager Chan Ka-tai accepted bribes totalling $4,000 from shop manager Ng Wai-to for conniving the stealing.
Four other former employees of Bright Mark, namely head chef Wong Shing-tat, chef Man Ka-sing, waitress Lau Sui-lin and part-time waitress Ma Kwan-tung, were also charged by the ICAC for their roles in the scheme.
The four defendants pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy to steal today. They had their trial fixed for September 26.
Bright Mark had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Anthea Kwok, assisted by ICAC officer Ally Cheung.
The seven defendants, all formerly employed by Bright Mark Restaurant Limited (Bright Mark), were assistant operations manager Chan Ka-tai, 42; shop manager Ng Wai-to, 28; captains Lam Ting-fung and Lam Wing-sze, respectively 28, and, 26; senior chefs Yu Hoi-lun and Yu Sai-ming, both 25; and chef Lui Kin-shing, 22.
They pleaded guilty to 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.
Judge Mr Edmond Lee Chun-man adjourned the case to December 8 for sentence and granted the defendants cash bail.
At the material time, Bright Mark operated a number of ramen shops in Hong Kong under two brand names—Bari-Uma Ramen and Fu-Unmaru. According to Bright Mark’s policy, food orders made by customers must be input into a computer system. Staff members were not allowed to place verbal food orders with kitchen staff.
The court heard that the defendants took part in a misappropriation scheme involving improper handling of cash coupons and meal orders made by customers, and committed bribery for conniving at their stealing of cash proceeds totalling about $190,000 from the Tseung Kwan O branch of Bari-Uma Ramen and the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of Fu-Unmaru.
At the Tseung Kwan O branch of Bari-Uma Ramen, shop manager Ng Wai-to, captain Lam Ting-fung, senior chefs Yu Hoi-lun and Yu Sai-ming and chef Lui Kin-shing had conspired together to steal cash proceeds totalling over $150,000 from the cash till between August 2017 and November 2018.
Captain Lam Ting-fung had also offered bribes totalling $6,000 to a then head chef of Bright Mark for conniving at the stealing and offered bribes totalling $9,000 to chef Lui Kin-shing for complying with verbal food orders made to kitchen staff of the branch.
At the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of Fu-Unmaru, shop manager Ng Wai-to and captain Lam Wing-sze had conspired together to steal cash proceeds totalling over $34,000 from the cash till between August and November 2018. Meanwhile, assistant operations manager Chan Ka-tai accepted bribes totalling $4,000 from shop manager Ng Wai-to for conniving the stealing.
Four other former employees of Bright Mark, namely head chef Wong Shing-tat, chef Man Ka-sing, waitress Lau Sui-lin and part-time waitress Ma Kwan-tung, were also charged by the ICAC for their roles in the scheme.
The four defendants pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy to steal today. They had their trial fixed for September 26.
Bright Mark had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Anthea Kwok, assisted by ICAC officer Ally Cheung.