Subcontractor jailed for $600,000 bribe-for-lax supervision
2015-12-28
A subcontractor was today (Monday) sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistracy after admitting an ICAC charge of offering a $600,000 bribe to a technical manager of the property management company at a private residential estate for lax supervision over renovation works conducted by the subcontractor.
Chong Ko-lan, 56, proprietor of Shing Hing Engineering Company (Shing Hing), today pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan said the defendant deserved a deterrent sentence as the case involved a huge bribe. Should the defendant succeed in bribing the technical manager, public safety would be jeopardised.
The deputy magistrate said he reduced the starting point of 12 months in jail to eight months after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors.
The court heard that at the material time, David S.K. Au & Associates Limited (DSK) and Warm Home Construction Company Limited (WHC) were respectively the consultant and the contractor of a $56 million renovation project at Mei Foo Sun Chuen Stage VIII.
Between October and November 2013, the defendant was subcontracted by WHC to carry out plumbing and finishing works at $16,600,000 of the project. He also acted as the site foreman of WHC.
In February 2014, WHC subcontracted the remaining works worth $30 million of the project to Shing Hing, which was owned and operated by the defendant.
The court heard that a technical manager of Broadway-Nassau Investments Limited (BNI), the property management company of Mei Foo Sun Chuen, was tasked to supervise the whole renovation project.
Between August 31, 2013 and January 2, 2014, WHC submitted four applications for works payments totalling $12.4 million. But DSK only issued certificates for payments for $4 million as it found the actual works done by WHC were far less than its claims or not supported by relevant documents.
Upon the defendant’s request, the technical manager of BNI had a meeting with him in the office of BNI on April 4, 2014. While the technical manager asked the defendant to improve the work quality, the defendant offered $600,000 to the technical manager, who understood that it was a bribe offered to him for exercising lax supervision on the defendant’s substandard work. The technical manager declined the offer.
The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers on September 17, 2014. When interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted that he had offered $600,000 to the technical manager for that purpose, the court was told.
BNI and DSK had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Francis Lo, assisted by ICAC officer Joanne Li.
Chong Ko-lan, 56, proprietor of Shing Hing Engineering Company (Shing Hing), today pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Lam Tsz-kan said the defendant deserved a deterrent sentence as the case involved a huge bribe. Should the defendant succeed in bribing the technical manager, public safety would be jeopardised.
The deputy magistrate said he reduced the starting point of 12 months in jail to eight months after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors.
The court heard that at the material time, David S.K. Au & Associates Limited (DSK) and Warm Home Construction Company Limited (WHC) were respectively the consultant and the contractor of a $56 million renovation project at Mei Foo Sun Chuen Stage VIII.
Between October and November 2013, the defendant was subcontracted by WHC to carry out plumbing and finishing works at $16,600,000 of the project. He also acted as the site foreman of WHC.
In February 2014, WHC subcontracted the remaining works worth $30 million of the project to Shing Hing, which was owned and operated by the defendant.
The court heard that a technical manager of Broadway-Nassau Investments Limited (BNI), the property management company of Mei Foo Sun Chuen, was tasked to supervise the whole renovation project.
Between August 31, 2013 and January 2, 2014, WHC submitted four applications for works payments totalling $12.4 million. But DSK only issued certificates for payments for $4 million as it found the actual works done by WHC were far less than its claims or not supported by relevant documents.
Upon the defendant’s request, the technical manager of BNI had a meeting with him in the office of BNI on April 4, 2014. While the technical manager asked the defendant to improve the work quality, the defendant offered $600,000 to the technical manager, who understood that it was a bribe offered to him for exercising lax supervision on the defendant’s substandard work. The technical manager declined the offer.
The defendant was arrested by ICAC officers on September 17, 2014. When interviewed under caution, the defendant admitted that he had offered $600,000 to the technical manager for that purpose, the court was told.
BNI and DSK had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Francis Lo, assisted by ICAC officer Joanne Li.