Ex-bar bender in court for $572,000 wages fraud and perversion
2018-1-24
A former bar bender of a construction company appeared in the Shatin Magistracy today (January 24) after being charged by the ICAC with defrauding the construction company and three then bar benders of wages totalling over $572,000 and perverting public justice by requesting two of them to make false statements to the anti-corruption agency.
Kwok Chi-shing, 27, a former bar bender of Siu Keung Kee Constructions and Iron Works Limited (Siu Keung Kee), who was charged on Monday (January 22), faced 11 charges – nine of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, and two of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law.
No plea was taken today. Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Don So Man-lung adjourned the case to February 28 for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was employed by Siu Keung Kee to work as a “big worker” (a bar bender with at least three years’ experience) for its associated companies – Yat Kee and Bun Kee.
Siu Keung Kee, the main contractor of the bar bending works at the construction sites of a public housing estate in Shatin and a private housing estate in Deep Water Bay, subcontracted the works to Yat Kee and Bun Kee.
Three of the charges alleged that between August 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015, the defendant falsely represented that refund payments had to be made to senior staff of the construction sites, and with intent to defraud, induced three then bar benders to hand over to him a total of over $184,000, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to them.
Six other charges alleged that between August 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015, the defendant dishonestly failed to disclose to Siu Keung Kee and Yat Kee or Bun Kee the true experience of the above three bar benders, and with intent to defraud, induced Siu Keung Kee and Yat Kee or Bun Kee to release wages of over $916,000 in total to them, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to Siu Keung Kee.
It was alleged that out of the $916,000, over $388,000 were extra wages paid to the above three bar benders by Siu Keung Kee through Yat Kee or Bun Kee.
The remaining two charges alleged that on August 20 and 24, 2015, the defendant, with intent to pervert the course of public justice, requested two of the above bar benders to make false statements to investigating officers of the ICAC.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000. He was also ordered to surrender all travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Siu Keung Kee, Yat Kee and Bun Kee had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Pius Chan.
Kwok Chi-shing, 27, a former bar bender of Siu Keung Kee Constructions and Iron Works Limited (Siu Keung Kee), who was charged on Monday (January 22), faced 11 charges – nine of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, and two of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law.
No plea was taken today. Acting Principal Magistrate Mr Don So Man-lung adjourned the case to February 28 for plea.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences.
At the material time, the defendant was employed by Siu Keung Kee to work as a “big worker” (a bar bender with at least three years’ experience) for its associated companies – Yat Kee and Bun Kee.
Siu Keung Kee, the main contractor of the bar bending works at the construction sites of a public housing estate in Shatin and a private housing estate in Deep Water Bay, subcontracted the works to Yat Kee and Bun Kee.
Three of the charges alleged that between August 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015, the defendant falsely represented that refund payments had to be made to senior staff of the construction sites, and with intent to defraud, induced three then bar benders to hand over to him a total of over $184,000, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to them.
Six other charges alleged that between August 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015, the defendant dishonestly failed to disclose to Siu Keung Kee and Yat Kee or Bun Kee the true experience of the above three bar benders, and with intent to defraud, induced Siu Keung Kee and Yat Kee or Bun Kee to release wages of over $916,000 in total to them, which resulted in benefit to him or in prejudice to Siu Keung Kee.
It was alleged that out of the $916,000, over $388,000 were extra wages paid to the above three bar benders by Siu Keung Kee through Yat Kee or Bun Kee.
The remaining two charges alleged that on August 20 and 24, 2015, the defendant, with intent to pervert the course of public justice, requested two of the above bar benders to make false statements to investigating officers of the ICAC.
The defendant was granted cash bail of $10,000. He was also ordered to surrender all travel documents, not to leave Hong Kong and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Siu Keung Kee, Yat Kee and Bun Kee had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Pius Chan.