Duo in court over $480,000 school renovation projects fraud
2016-8-19
A computer technician of a government-aided primary school and a proprietor of two renovation companies appeared in the Eastern Magistracy today (Friday) after being charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud the school of 10 renovation projects worth over $480,000.
Lam Ka-chun, 35, computer technician of San Wui Commercial Society School (SWCSS), and Chung Kin-pong, 32, proprietor of Asia Century and Creative Link Engineering Limited (Creative Link), who were charged on Wednesday (August 17), faced a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to common law.
Lam alone faced two alternative charges of forgery, contrary to Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance, while Chung also faced 10 alternative charges of using false instruments, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. Magistrate Jason Wan Siu-ming adjourned the case to September 30 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, Lam was a computer technician of SWCSS, a government-aided primary school managed by an Incorporated Management Committee (IMC). Chung was the sole proprietor of Asia Century and a director-cum-shareholder of Creative Link.
The charge alleged that Lam and Chung conspired together and with another person to defraud the IMC of SWCSS by falsely representing that quotations submitted by Asia Century, Creative Link and four other companies for prospective renovation projects at the school were genuinely competitive ones, and that the quotations were prepared separately from and independently of one another.
As a result, Lam and Chung caused and induced the IMC of SWCSS to approve payments to be made to Asia Century or Chung. The approved payments for the 10 prospective renovation projects were said to amount to over $480,000.
Two alternative charges alleged that Lam made two quotations purportedly issued by one of the four other companies for the air-conditioner installation work at the hall of SWCSS and the main entrance renovation work to the school respectively, with the intention that he or another shall use them to induce somebody to accept them as genuine.
The remaining 10 alternative charges alleged that Chung used 22 false quotations purportedly issued by the four other companies for various projects at SWCSS, including illumination and partition installation work, replacement of wooden door and mechanical lock, water leakage repair work, and air-conditioner and power supply installation, with the intention of inducing an officer of SWCSS to accept them as genuine.
The above alleged offences took place between July 1, 2013 and November 7, 2014.
Lam and Chung were each granted cash bail of $10,000. They were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
SWCSS had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Hayley Lau.
Lam Ka-chun, 35, computer technician of San Wui Commercial Society School (SWCSS), and Chung Kin-pong, 32, proprietor of Asia Century and Creative Link Engineering Limited (Creative Link), who were charged on Wednesday (August 17), faced a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to common law.
Lam alone faced two alternative charges of forgery, contrary to Section 71 of the Crimes Ordinance, while Chung also faced 10 alternative charges of using false instruments, contrary to Section 73 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. Magistrate Jason Wan Siu-ming adjourned the case to September 30 this year for a pre-trial review.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, Lam was a computer technician of SWCSS, a government-aided primary school managed by an Incorporated Management Committee (IMC). Chung was the sole proprietor of Asia Century and a director-cum-shareholder of Creative Link.
The charge alleged that Lam and Chung conspired together and with another person to defraud the IMC of SWCSS by falsely representing that quotations submitted by Asia Century, Creative Link and four other companies for prospective renovation projects at the school were genuinely competitive ones, and that the quotations were prepared separately from and independently of one another.
As a result, Lam and Chung caused and induced the IMC of SWCSS to approve payments to be made to Asia Century or Chung. The approved payments for the 10 prospective renovation projects were said to amount to over $480,000.
Two alternative charges alleged that Lam made two quotations purportedly issued by one of the four other companies for the air-conditioner installation work at the hall of SWCSS and the main entrance renovation work to the school respectively, with the intention that he or another shall use them to induce somebody to accept them as genuine.
The remaining 10 alternative charges alleged that Chung used 22 false quotations purportedly issued by the four other companies for various projects at SWCSS, including illumination and partition installation work, replacement of wooden door and mechanical lock, water leakage repair work, and air-conditioner and power supply installation, with the intention of inducing an officer of SWCSS to accept them as genuine.
The above alleged offences took place between July 1, 2013 and November 7, 2014.
Lam and Chung were each granted cash bail of $10,000. They were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
SWCSS had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Hayley Lau.