Ex-chefs charged with $200,000 bribes-for-employment
2016-9-8
Three former chefs of a hotel have been charged by the ICAC with soliciting, accepting and offering bribes up to over $200,000 in relation to the employment of two of the former chefs with the hotel.
Tsang Hung-tak, 58, former Chinese head chef of The Park Lane Hong Kong (The Park Lane), Chan Kei-cheong, 57, former assistant Chinese head chief of The Park Lane, and Sze Hung-wai, 50, former chef de partie of The Park Lane, who were charged yesterday (September 7), face a total of 11 corruption charges.
Tsang alone faces six charges – two of agent soliciting an advantage and four of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Chan alone has been charged with four counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the POBO, while Sze alone faces one similar offence.
The defendants will appear at the Eastern Magistracy on Friday (September 9) for transfer of the case to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, Tsang was employed by Victoria Park Hotels Limited to work as Chinese head chef of The Park Lane, a hotel in Causeway Bay. Chan and Sze were hired as its assistant Chinese head chef and chef de partie respectively.
One of the charges alleges that on an unknown date between January 1 and June 30, 2006, Tsang solicited $3,000 per month from Chan as a reward for referring him to work as assistant Chinese head chef with The Park Lane.
Three other charges allege that between July 12, 2006 and January 30, 2015, Tsang accepted $3,000 per month or $72,000 in total; $30,000 and $50,000 from Chan as rewards for maintaining his gainful employment with The Park Lane.
Four other charges allege that during the same period, Chan offered the above sums of money totalling $152,000 and another $30,000 to Tsang for the same purpose.
Meanwhile, another charge alleges that on an unknown date between April 1 and September 2, 2012, Tsang solicited $1,000 per month from Sze as a reward for referring him to work as chef de partie with The Park Lane.
The other charge alleges that between September 3, 2012 and April 30, 2014, Tsang accepted $1,000 per month or $20,000 in total from Sze as rewards for maintaining his gainful employment with The Park Lane.
The remaining charge alleges that during the same period, Sze offered the above sums of money to Tsang for the same purpose.
Victoria Park Hotels Limited has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Friday.
Tsang Hung-tak, 58, former Chinese head chef of The Park Lane Hong Kong (The Park Lane), Chan Kei-cheong, 57, former assistant Chinese head chief of The Park Lane, and Sze Hung-wai, 50, former chef de partie of The Park Lane, who were charged yesterday (September 7), face a total of 11 corruption charges.
Tsang alone faces six charges – two of agent soliciting an advantage and four of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Chan alone has been charged with four counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the POBO, while Sze alone faces one similar offence.
The defendants will appear at the Eastern Magistracy on Friday (September 9) for transfer of the case to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, Tsang was employed by Victoria Park Hotels Limited to work as Chinese head chef of The Park Lane, a hotel in Causeway Bay. Chan and Sze were hired as its assistant Chinese head chef and chef de partie respectively.
One of the charges alleges that on an unknown date between January 1 and June 30, 2006, Tsang solicited $3,000 per month from Chan as a reward for referring him to work as assistant Chinese head chef with The Park Lane.
Three other charges allege that between July 12, 2006 and January 30, 2015, Tsang accepted $3,000 per month or $72,000 in total; $30,000 and $50,000 from Chan as rewards for maintaining his gainful employment with The Park Lane.
Four other charges allege that during the same period, Chan offered the above sums of money totalling $152,000 and another $30,000 to Tsang for the same purpose.
Meanwhile, another charge alleges that on an unknown date between April 1 and September 2, 2012, Tsang solicited $1,000 per month from Sze as a reward for referring him to work as chef de partie with The Park Lane.
The other charge alleges that between September 3, 2012 and April 30, 2014, Tsang accepted $1,000 per month or $20,000 in total from Sze as rewards for maintaining his gainful employment with The Park Lane.
The remaining charge alleges that during the same period, Sze offered the above sums of money to Tsang for the same purpose.
Victoria Park Hotels Limited has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearances on Friday.