ICAC operation ‘War Drum’ uncovers bribery and fraudulent claims over lax supervision of steel reinforcement works and conniving at works deviations at residential construction site
2025-5-21
In a recent law enforcement operation codenamed “War Drum”, the ICAC uncovered corruption and fraudulent claims of inspections at a construction site of a residential project in Kwun Tong. During the operation, ICAC officers arrested 10 men, aged between 29 and 52. They were alleged to have bribed an employee of the main contractor and resident site supervision staff of an engineering consultancy firm, who were responsible for overseeing the construction works of the project, for lax supervision of steel reinforcement works carried out by subcontractors, as well as conniving at works deviated from the building plans.
Among the 10 arrestees were an employee of the main contractor and five proprietors, operators or employees of subcontractors. The remaining four arrestees were resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm. They had allegedly committed offences including bribery, conspiracy to defraud and using false documents.
Various premises were searched by ICAC officers in the operation, including the construction site concerned, the offices of the main contractor, subcontractors and engineering consultancy firm, as well as residences of the arrestees. A large number of relevant works documents were seized, such as procurement documents of construction materials, workers’ salary payment records and inspection reports on works quality.
The construction site involved in the present case is a private residential project at Anderson Road, Kwun Tong, which is still under construction. The developer has been ordered by the Buildings Department (BD) to suspend construction works.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that, to maximize profits and save costs, subcontractors of steel reinforcement work of the project had allowed their works to deviate from the building plans approved by BD (the approved building plans) during the construction process. The subcontractors also offered bribes to an employee of the main contractor and resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm in exchange for their lax supervision of the steel reinforcement works and allowing them to continue with the works without complying with the requirements of the approved building plans.
On various occasions, the steel reinforcement works subcontractors concerned had allegedly offered to an employee of the main contractor and resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm “sweeteners”, including bribe money, gifts as well as payments for lavish entertainment expenses.
Registered contractors and registered building professionals have their respective statutory duties, as well as the overall responsibility in relation to works quality, construction and safety supervision. They and their resident site supervision staff should, upon the request of the developer and in accordance with legal requirements, conduct quality inspections of the steel reinforcement works, and complete and sign on designated forms for record-keeping to confirm the compliance of quality standard for proceeding to the next stage of works
The resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm concerned had allegedly accepted bribes and falsely represented in the designated forms of the developer that they had conducted quality inspections of the steel reinforcement works, thereby misleading the developer into believing that the works were properly completed.
ICAC enquires found that steel reinforcement works at various locations of the construction site showed varying degrees of deviations from the approved building plans. Such deviations were in relation to the number, spacing, thickness and positions of the steel reinforcement bars. The investigation also found that the numbers of steel bars and bar-benders deployed by some of the subcontractors were reduced.
As ICAC enquiries are ongoing, further law enforcement actions will not be ruled out.
In view of the present case, in addition to stringent enforcement action, the ICAC has further strengthened relevant prevention and education initiatives. The ICAC has been working closely with BD and the industry to carry out corruption prevention measures targeting new private building projects, including corruption prevention reviews and advisory services, to enhance the capabilities of systematic prevention of corruption. Such include enhancing the effectiveness of project supervision by using technology, as well as strengthening integrity requirements of practitioners and punishment mechanisms. In view of the present law enforcement operation, the ICAC’s Corruption Prevention Department will set up a special task force comprising staff possessing professional qualifications, including engineers, surveyors and other professionals of the industry, to review the relevant construction and site supervision procedures and eliminate corruption loopholes. The ICAC will continue to promote and monitor the implementation of those advices.
The ICAC is committed to upholding integrity in the construction industry and will provide continuous support and integrity training for construction professionals to deepen their understanding of the anti-corruption law and corruption risks. Through the “Construction Industry Integrity Charter” initiative, the ICAC strives to raise the awareness of corruption prevention and reinforce integrity management, thereby fostering a culture of integrity in the construction industry.
The Development Bureau, the BD and the developer concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Among the 10 arrestees were an employee of the main contractor and five proprietors, operators or employees of subcontractors. The remaining four arrestees were resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm. They had allegedly committed offences including bribery, conspiracy to defraud and using false documents.
Various premises were searched by ICAC officers in the operation, including the construction site concerned, the offices of the main contractor, subcontractors and engineering consultancy firm, as well as residences of the arrestees. A large number of relevant works documents were seized, such as procurement documents of construction materials, workers’ salary payment records and inspection reports on works quality.
The construction site involved in the present case is a private residential project at Anderson Road, Kwun Tong, which is still under construction. The developer has been ordered by the Buildings Department (BD) to suspend construction works.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that, to maximize profits and save costs, subcontractors of steel reinforcement work of the project had allowed their works to deviate from the building plans approved by BD (the approved building plans) during the construction process. The subcontractors also offered bribes to an employee of the main contractor and resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm in exchange for their lax supervision of the steel reinforcement works and allowing them to continue with the works without complying with the requirements of the approved building plans.
On various occasions, the steel reinforcement works subcontractors concerned had allegedly offered to an employee of the main contractor and resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm “sweeteners”, including bribe money, gifts as well as payments for lavish entertainment expenses.
Registered contractors and registered building professionals have their respective statutory duties, as well as the overall responsibility in relation to works quality, construction and safety supervision. They and their resident site supervision staff should, upon the request of the developer and in accordance with legal requirements, conduct quality inspections of the steel reinforcement works, and complete and sign on designated forms for record-keeping to confirm the compliance of quality standard for proceeding to the next stage of works
The resident site supervision staff of the consultancy firm concerned had allegedly accepted bribes and falsely represented in the designated forms of the developer that they had conducted quality inspections of the steel reinforcement works, thereby misleading the developer into believing that the works were properly completed.
ICAC enquires found that steel reinforcement works at various locations of the construction site showed varying degrees of deviations from the approved building plans. Such deviations were in relation to the number, spacing, thickness and positions of the steel reinforcement bars. The investigation also found that the numbers of steel bars and bar-benders deployed by some of the subcontractors were reduced.
As ICAC enquiries are ongoing, further law enforcement actions will not be ruled out.
In view of the present case, in addition to stringent enforcement action, the ICAC has further strengthened relevant prevention and education initiatives. The ICAC has been working closely with BD and the industry to carry out corruption prevention measures targeting new private building projects, including corruption prevention reviews and advisory services, to enhance the capabilities of systematic prevention of corruption. Such include enhancing the effectiveness of project supervision by using technology, as well as strengthening integrity requirements of practitioners and punishment mechanisms. In view of the present law enforcement operation, the ICAC’s Corruption Prevention Department will set up a special task force comprising staff possessing professional qualifications, including engineers, surveyors and other professionals of the industry, to review the relevant construction and site supervision procedures and eliminate corruption loopholes. The ICAC will continue to promote and monitor the implementation of those advices.
The ICAC is committed to upholding integrity in the construction industry and will provide continuous support and integrity training for construction professionals to deepen their understanding of the anti-corruption law and corruption risks. Through the “Construction Industry Integrity Charter” initiative, the ICAC strives to raise the awareness of corruption prevention and reinforce integrity management, thereby fostering a culture of integrity in the construction industry.
The Development Bureau, the BD and the developer concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
