Arborists charged with bribery over tree survey services projects
2016-7-5
An arborist of a landscape architecture company and a freelance arborist have been charged by the ICAC today (Tuesday) with conspiracy for the arborist to accept illegal commissions totalling over $250,000 in relation to referral of tree survey services projects to the freelance arborist.
Sum Yu-hin, 28, an arborist of Earthasia Limited (Earthasia), and Lau Siu-yeung, 31, a freelance arborist, face a joint charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the Eastern Magistracy on Thursday (July 7) for plea.
At the material time, Sum was an arborist of Earthasia, a landscape architecture company providing landscape assessment and consultation services.
When Earthasia had a labour shortage, Sum was responsible for subcontracting its tree survey services projects to freelance arborists. Among whom was Lau.
The charge alleges that between June 25, 2014 and September 14, 2015, Sum and Lau conspired together for Sum to accept commissions, at a rate of 50 per cent of the payment amount of projects procured by Sum and entered into between Earthasia and Lau, from Lau as a reward for referring 16 tree survey services projects to Lau. The illegal commissions were said to amount to over $250,000.
Earthasia has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Thursday.
Sum Yu-hin, 28, an arborist of Earthasia Limited (Earthasia), and Lau Siu-yeung, 31, a freelance arborist, face a joint charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the Eastern Magistracy on Thursday (July 7) for plea.
At the material time, Sum was an arborist of Earthasia, a landscape architecture company providing landscape assessment and consultation services.
When Earthasia had a labour shortage, Sum was responsible for subcontracting its tree survey services projects to freelance arborists. Among whom was Lau.
The charge alleges that between June 25, 2014 and September 14, 2015, Sum and Lau conspired together for Sum to accept commissions, at a rate of 50 per cent of the payment amount of projects procured by Sum and entered into between Earthasia and Lau, from Lau as a reward for referring 16 tree survey services projects to Lau. The illegal commissions were said to amount to over $250,000.
Earthasia has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Thursday.