A hawker appeared in the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (Wednesday) after being charged by the ICAC with offering $19,000 in bribes to two cleaning workers in relation to the storage of his paraphernalia at the refuse collection point of a public housing estate.

Huynh Huoi, 52, faced two charges of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Principal Magistrate Mr Ernest Lin Kam-hung adjourned the case to June 27 this year for mention.

At the material time, the defendant was a hawker selling noodles at Sheung Tak Estate in Tseung Kwan O. Chun Wui Kee Company Limited (Chun Wui Kee) was a cleaning contractor engaged by the Housing Department to collect refuse at the estate.

One of the charges alleged that between January 1 and June 30, 2014, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered a total of $6,000 to a cleaning worker of Chun Wui Kee as rewards for allowing him to gain access to and use the refuse collection point at Sheung Ming House of the estate for storage of paraphernalia for his hawking business.

The other charge alleged that between July 1, 2014 and July 31, 2015, the defendant, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered a total of $13,000 to another cleaning worker of Chun Wui Kee for the same purpose.

The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000. He was ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.

Chun Wui Kee had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Pius Chan.