Four months’ jail for bribery to secure minor works
2018-2-1
A director of a renovation company and a director of a property management company, charged by the ICAC, were today (February 1) each sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistracy after being convicted of respectively offering and aiding and abetting to offer bribes to secure minor works at an industrial building and a residential estate.
Wong King-kwong, 41, director and shareholder of Innotech Enviro Limited (IEL), was found guilty of two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Ray Kwok Pik-keung, 52, director and shareholder of Memfus Wong Surveyors (Property Management) Limited (MWS), was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting another person to offer an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the POBO and Section 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Matthew Leung Man-liang said he had to mete out deterrent sentences to the defendants as bribery was a serious offence in a civilised society.
Upon the defendants’ applications, the magistrate granted them cash bail of $20,000 each pending their appeals.
The court heard that at the material time, Wong was a director and shareholder of IEL which embarked on a minor renovation repair and maintenance business.
Kwok was a director and shareholder of MWS which offered property management services to various properties, including Wang Lung Industrial Building (WLIB) and Harmony Garden (HG), a residential estate, in Tsuen Wan.
In July 2015, the incorporated owners (IO) of WLIB and HG respectively resolved to carry out exterior wall repair works and install an air-conditioner drainage pipe.
Upon receiving quotations from contractors, Kwok asked a then senior property officer of MWS to pass him copies of all the quotations received, and said he had a reliable contractor to recommend to the IOs of WLIB and HG, which turned out to be IEL.
The court heard that on February 3, 2016, Wong offered a bribe equivalent to 10 per cent of the amount charged by IEL for the repair works on the external wall of WLIB to the senior property officer of MWS as a reward for organising and handling matters relating to the repair works.
On the same day, Wong also offered another bribe of $1,440 to the senior property officer of MWS as a reward for organising and handling matters relating to the installation of the air-conditioner drainage pipe on the external wall of a floor of a block of HG.
Between October 29, 2015 and February 3, 2016, Kwok aided and abetted Wong to offer the bribe of $1,440 to the senior property officer of MWS for the same purpose, the court was told.
The management of MWS, the IOs of WLIB and HG had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Jeff Chow.
Wong King-kwong, 41, director and shareholder of Innotech Enviro Limited (IEL), was found guilty of two counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Co-defendant Ray Kwok Pik-keung, 52, director and shareholder of Memfus Wong Surveyors (Property Management) Limited (MWS), was convicted of one count of aiding and abetting another person to offer an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the POBO and Section 89 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Matthew Leung Man-liang said he had to mete out deterrent sentences to the defendants as bribery was a serious offence in a civilised society.
Upon the defendants’ applications, the magistrate granted them cash bail of $20,000 each pending their appeals.
The court heard that at the material time, Wong was a director and shareholder of IEL which embarked on a minor renovation repair and maintenance business.
Kwok was a director and shareholder of MWS which offered property management services to various properties, including Wang Lung Industrial Building (WLIB) and Harmony Garden (HG), a residential estate, in Tsuen Wan.
In July 2015, the incorporated owners (IO) of WLIB and HG respectively resolved to carry out exterior wall repair works and install an air-conditioner drainage pipe.
Upon receiving quotations from contractors, Kwok asked a then senior property officer of MWS to pass him copies of all the quotations received, and said he had a reliable contractor to recommend to the IOs of WLIB and HG, which turned out to be IEL.
The court heard that on February 3, 2016, Wong offered a bribe equivalent to 10 per cent of the amount charged by IEL for the repair works on the external wall of WLIB to the senior property officer of MWS as a reward for organising and handling matters relating to the repair works.
On the same day, Wong also offered another bribe of $1,440 to the senior property officer of MWS as a reward for organising and handling matters relating to the installation of the air-conditioner drainage pipe on the external wall of a floor of a block of HG.
Between October 29, 2015 and February 3, 2016, Kwok aided and abetted Wong to offer the bribe of $1,440 to the senior property officer of MWS for the same purpose, the court was told.
The management of MWS, the IOs of WLIB and HG had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Newman Wong, assisted by ICAC officer Jeff Chow.