Ex-technician of theme park jailed for bribes-for-merchandise scam
2016-5-12
A former stage technician of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (Hong Kong Disneyland), charged by the ICAC, was today (Thursday) sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment at the Tsuen Wan Magistracy for offering over $10,000 in bribes to former colleagues for purchasing merchandise at discount prices and handing them over to him for resale.
Kwok Yuet-sang, 56, formerly employed by Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited (HKITP), earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Kenneth Chan Ping-chau said the defendant was the instigator of the scam. His repeated acts of approaching former colleagues for assistance in purchasing merchandise at a discount constituted a serious breach of trust.
The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay HKITP restitution of $78,595, being the difference between the retail price and staff discount price of the merchandise he purchased through former colleagues.
The court heard that according to the policy of HKITP, all employees were entitled to purchase merchandise of the Hong Kong Disneyland at staff discounts ranging from 20 to 35 per cent, depending on their length of service.
The employee policy manual of HKITP stipulated that employees were not allowed to purchase merchandise at staff discount prices for resale, exchange for value or for other persons.
The defendant had been a stage technician employed by HKITP and was posted to the Entertainment Department of Hong Kong Disneyland. On November 6, 2013, he was dismissed by HKITP due to his breach of the restriction.
Afterwards, the defendant approached two serving stage technicians for their assistance in purchasing merchandise at staff discount prices on his behalf, and offered to pay them rewards for doing so. The defendant also told the stage technicians that the merchandise was for resale on the Internet.
The court heard that upon the defendant’s request, one of the stage technicians used his staff discount price to purchase $3,742 worth of merchandise of Hong Kong Disneyland in shopping outlets on November 11, 2013, and handed over the merchandise to him.
Two days later, the defendant paid about $400 to the stage technician as a reward for his assistance.
On November 21, 2013, the stage technician purchased $5,803 worth of merchandise in shopping outlets upon the defendant’s request, and handed them over to the defendant. In return, the defendant paid about $500 to him as a reward.
The court heard that upon the defendant’s requests, the other stage technician purchased merchandise in a total sum of $92,544 at his staff discount price in shopping outlets on 13 occasions between January 12 and 28, 2014.
After receiving the merchandise from the stage technician, the defendant paid over $9,254 in total to him as rewards for his assistance, the court was told.
HKITP had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Francis Lo, assisted by ICAC officer Kits Wong.
Kwok Yuet-sang, 56, formerly employed by Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited (HKITP), earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Kenneth Chan Ping-chau said the defendant was the instigator of the scam. His repeated acts of approaching former colleagues for assistance in purchasing merchandise at a discount constituted a serious breach of trust.
The magistrate also ordered the defendant to pay HKITP restitution of $78,595, being the difference between the retail price and staff discount price of the merchandise he purchased through former colleagues.
The court heard that according to the policy of HKITP, all employees were entitled to purchase merchandise of the Hong Kong Disneyland at staff discounts ranging from 20 to 35 per cent, depending on their length of service.
The employee policy manual of HKITP stipulated that employees were not allowed to purchase merchandise at staff discount prices for resale, exchange for value or for other persons.
The defendant had been a stage technician employed by HKITP and was posted to the Entertainment Department of Hong Kong Disneyland. On November 6, 2013, he was dismissed by HKITP due to his breach of the restriction.
Afterwards, the defendant approached two serving stage technicians for their assistance in purchasing merchandise at staff discount prices on his behalf, and offered to pay them rewards for doing so. The defendant also told the stage technicians that the merchandise was for resale on the Internet.
The court heard that upon the defendant’s request, one of the stage technicians used his staff discount price to purchase $3,742 worth of merchandise of Hong Kong Disneyland in shopping outlets on November 11, 2013, and handed over the merchandise to him.
Two days later, the defendant paid about $400 to the stage technician as a reward for his assistance.
On November 21, 2013, the stage technician purchased $5,803 worth of merchandise in shopping outlets upon the defendant’s request, and handed them over to the defendant. In return, the defendant paid about $500 to him as a reward.
The court heard that upon the defendant’s requests, the other stage technician purchased merchandise in a total sum of $92,544 at his staff discount price in shopping outlets on 13 occasions between January 12 and 28, 2014.
After receiving the merchandise from the stage technician, the defendant paid over $9,254 in total to him as rewards for his assistance, the court was told.
HKITP had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Francis Lo, assisted by ICAC officer Kits Wong.