Ex-cleaning supervisor and son charged by ICAC for wage fraud
2022-7-21
A former supervisor of a cleaning services contractor and his son were charged by the ICAC yesterday (July 20) for allegedly deceiving the contractor into paying wages totalling about $350,000 by falsifying the son’s attendance records over a span of around two and a half years.
Yip Hong-yau, 42, former supervisor of ISS Facility Services Limited (ISS); and his son Louis Yip Wai-lok, 24, who is reportedly a former cleaning worker of ISS, jointly face one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Louis Yip further faces one alternative charge of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 22) for the case to be transferred to the District Court.
At the material time, Yip Hong-yau was a supervisor of ISS, which was a cleaning services contractor of a commercial building in Central. He was responsible for recruiting and supervising cleaning workers. In December 2017, Yip Hong-yau registered for Louis Yip to join ISS as a cleaning worker reportedly posted to the building under his supervision.
The charge alleges that between December 2017 and June 2020, Yip Hong-yau and Louis Yip falsely represented to ISS that the attendance records of Louis Yip accurately reflected his working hours, and with intent to defraud, induced ISS to release payments calculated in accordance with the attendance records, which resulted in benefit to them or in prejudice to ISS.
It is alleged that Louis Yip had never performed cleaning duties at the building. During the above period, ISS paid wages totalling about $350,000 to Louis Yip through his bank account.
The alternative charge alleges that between January 2018 and July 2020, Louis Yip dealt with the above sum of about $350,000 held in his bank account, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint. The duo were charged after seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice upon completion of the investigation. ISS has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Yip Hong-yau, 42, former supervisor of ISS Facility Services Limited (ISS); and his son Louis Yip Wai-lok, 24, who is reportedly a former cleaning worker of ISS, jointly face one count of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
Louis Yip further faces one alternative charge of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (July 22) for the case to be transferred to the District Court.
At the material time, Yip Hong-yau was a supervisor of ISS, which was a cleaning services contractor of a commercial building in Central. He was responsible for recruiting and supervising cleaning workers. In December 2017, Yip Hong-yau registered for Louis Yip to join ISS as a cleaning worker reportedly posted to the building under his supervision.
The charge alleges that between December 2017 and June 2020, Yip Hong-yau and Louis Yip falsely represented to ISS that the attendance records of Louis Yip accurately reflected his working hours, and with intent to defraud, induced ISS to release payments calculated in accordance with the attendance records, which resulted in benefit to them or in prejudice to ISS.
It is alleged that Louis Yip had never performed cleaning duties at the building. During the above period, ISS paid wages totalling about $350,000 to Louis Yip through his bank account.
The alternative charge alleges that between January 2018 and July 2020, Louis Yip dealt with the above sum of about $350,000 held in his bank account, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that it in whole or in part directly or indirectly represented the proceeds of an indictable offence.
The investigation arose from a corruption complaint. The duo were charged after seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice upon completion of the investigation. ISS has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.