Ex-salesman guilty of offering bribes for refund of smart phones
2017-3-14
A former salesman of an electronic products company, charged by the ICAC, was today (March 14) convicted at the Kowloon City Magistracy of offering a bribe of around $800 to $1,000 to an employee of the company to help him get refund for each defective or damaged smart phone.
Cheung Yuet-hoi, 27, former salesman of Apple Asia Limited (AAL), was found guilty of one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Deputy Magistrate Ms Percy Yue Pui-sze adjourned the case to March 27 this year for sentence, pending a community service order report. The defendant was granted cash bail of $4,000.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a former salesman of AAL, which is a regional subsidiary of Apple Incorporation, an American manufacturer of electronic products.
Any person who purchases a smart phone at any of the stores of AAL is entitled to obtain a refund for or a replacement of the purchased phone within 14 days if it is undamaged. Defective or damaged smart phones cannot be returned for refund or replacement.
On November 5, 2015, the defendant asked a senior salesman of AAL at its Festival Walk Branch if he could assist in obtaining refund for “ghost phones”.
The senior salesman later called the defendant, who explained that “ghost phones” were smart phones, of which the electronic part(s) had been changed.
The defendant also said he could offer a reward of $800 to $1,000 to the senior salesman for each “ghost phone” refunded. The senior salesman ignored his request.
The court heard that on the following day, the defendant asked the senior salesman if he would try to handle two “ghost phones”. The senior salesman did not give a reply to the defendant.
AAL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Priscilia Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Kam.
Cheung Yuet-hoi, 27, former salesman of Apple Asia Limited (AAL), was found guilty of one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Deputy Magistrate Ms Percy Yue Pui-sze adjourned the case to March 27 this year for sentence, pending a community service order report. The defendant was granted cash bail of $4,000.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a former salesman of AAL, which is a regional subsidiary of Apple Incorporation, an American manufacturer of electronic products.
Any person who purchases a smart phone at any of the stores of AAL is entitled to obtain a refund for or a replacement of the purchased phone within 14 days if it is undamaged. Defective or damaged smart phones cannot be returned for refund or replacement.
On November 5, 2015, the defendant asked a senior salesman of AAL at its Festival Walk Branch if he could assist in obtaining refund for “ghost phones”.
The senior salesman later called the defendant, who explained that “ghost phones” were smart phones, of which the electronic part(s) had been changed.
The defendant also said he could offer a reward of $800 to $1,000 to the senior salesman for each “ghost phone” refunded. The senior salesman ignored his request.
The court heard that on the following day, the defendant asked the senior salesman if he would try to handle two “ghost phones”. The senior salesman did not give a reply to the defendant.
AAL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Priscilia Lam, assisted by ICAC officer Lawrence Kam.