Four charged by ICAC with $1m bribery for construction projects worth $300m and conspiracy to falsify accounts
2022-4-26
The ICAC today (April 26) charged four persons with accepting and offering a bribe of $1 million for gaining favour from a main contractor over its construction projects, and conspiracy to falsify accounts to cover up the bribe payment.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the four defendants. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 27) for mention.
Ringo Ng Wo-nang, 58, then senior manager of Hip Hing Construction Company Limited (Hip Hing), faces one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Yiu Shu-wan, 59, shareholder and director of Lee Shing Masonry Engineering Limited (Lee Shing), faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the POBO.
Yiu Shu-wan and two other co-defendants, Mak Hung-cho, 65, another shareholder and director of Lee Shing; and Yiu Shun-chuen, 61, proprietor of Shun Fat Trading Company (Shun Fat); jointly face one count of conspiracy to falsify accounts, contrary to Section 19(1)(a) of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
At the material time, Hip Hing was the main contractor of various public and private construction projects in Hong Kong. Lee Shing obtained from Hip Hing a masonry contract worth about $60 million of a private construction project in 2020, and further bid for two masonry contracts worth totalling about $250 million of the Kai Tak Sports Park project in 2021.
Ng was a senior manager of Hip Hing in charge of the site services support of the construction sites managed by Hip Hing. Yiu Shu-wan and Mak were both shareholders and directors of Lee Shing, while Yiu Shun-chuen was the proprietor of Shun Fat – a textile trading company.
One of the charges alleges that on July 27, 2021, Ng, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted a bribe of $1 million from Yiu Shu-wan, as an inducement to or reward for showing or having shown favour to Lee Shing in relation to Hip Hing’s affairs or business.
Another charge alleges that on the same day, Yiu Shu-wan, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered the above bribe of $1 million to Ng for the same purpose.
The remaining charge alleges that between July 13, 2015 and November 10, 2021, Yiu Shu-wan, Mak and Yiu Shun-chuen, conspired together and with another person to dishonestly falsify various documents made or required for accounting purposes.
It is alleged that the documents included purchase orders issued by Lee Shing to Shun Fat, invoices issued by Shun Fat to Lee Shing, delivery dockets of Shun Fat, and official receipts issued by Shun Fat. Those documents purportedly showed that Lee Shing had made payments to Shun Fat in respect of the purchase orders. The relevant transactions, which did not exist, were made up to cover up other expenses, including the above bribe of $1 million.
Hip Hing has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Upon completion of the investigation, the ICAC sought legal advice from the Department of Justice, which advised charging the four defendants. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (April 27) for mention.
Ringo Ng Wo-nang, 58, then senior manager of Hip Hing Construction Company Limited (Hip Hing), faces one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Yiu Shu-wan, 59, shareholder and director of Lee Shing Masonry Engineering Limited (Lee Shing), faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the POBO.
Yiu Shu-wan and two other co-defendants, Mak Hung-cho, 65, another shareholder and director of Lee Shing; and Yiu Shun-chuen, 61, proprietor of Shun Fat Trading Company (Shun Fat); jointly face one count of conspiracy to falsify accounts, contrary to Section 19(1)(a) of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
At the material time, Hip Hing was the main contractor of various public and private construction projects in Hong Kong. Lee Shing obtained from Hip Hing a masonry contract worth about $60 million of a private construction project in 2020, and further bid for two masonry contracts worth totalling about $250 million of the Kai Tak Sports Park project in 2021.
Ng was a senior manager of Hip Hing in charge of the site services support of the construction sites managed by Hip Hing. Yiu Shu-wan and Mak were both shareholders and directors of Lee Shing, while Yiu Shun-chuen was the proprietor of Shun Fat – a textile trading company.
One of the charges alleges that on July 27, 2021, Ng, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accepted a bribe of $1 million from Yiu Shu-wan, as an inducement to or reward for showing or having shown favour to Lee Shing in relation to Hip Hing’s affairs or business.
Another charge alleges that on the same day, Yiu Shu-wan, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered the above bribe of $1 million to Ng for the same purpose.
The remaining charge alleges that between July 13, 2015 and November 10, 2021, Yiu Shu-wan, Mak and Yiu Shun-chuen, conspired together and with another person to dishonestly falsify various documents made or required for accounting purposes.
It is alleged that the documents included purchase orders issued by Lee Shing to Shun Fat, invoices issued by Shun Fat to Lee Shing, delivery dockets of Shun Fat, and official receipts issued by Shun Fat. Those documents purportedly showed that Lee Shing had made payments to Shun Fat in respect of the purchase orders. The relevant transactions, which did not exist, were made up to cover up other expenses, including the above bribe of $1 million.
Hip Hing has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.