Ex-bar bender admits $360,000 wages fraud and perversion
2018-2-28
A former bar bender of a construction company, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the Shatin Magistracy today (February 28) that he had defrauded the construction company and three then bar benders of wages totalling over $360,000 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), pleaded guilty to seven charges – five of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, and two of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law. The prosecution offered no evidence to four similar charges of fraud against him.
Magistrate Mr Lam Tsz-kan adjourned the case to March 21 for sentence, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that 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.
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 induced three then bar benders to hand over to him a total of over $184,000.
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 two of the above three bar benders, and induced Siu Keung Kee and Yat Kee or Bun Kee to release extra wages of about $176,000 in total to the pair.
The court also heard that on August 20 and 24, 2015, the defendant requested two of the above bar benders to make false statements to investigating officers of the ICAC.
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), pleaded guilty to seven charges – five of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance, and two of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law. The prosecution offered no evidence to four similar charges of fraud against him.
Magistrate Mr Lam Tsz-kan adjourned the case to March 21 for sentence, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.
The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above offences.
The court heard that 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.
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 induced three then bar benders to hand over to him a total of over $184,000.
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 two of the above three bar benders, and induced Siu Keung Kee and Yat Kee or Bun Kee to release extra wages of about $176,000 in total to the pair.
The court also heard that on August 20 and 24, 2015, the defendant requested two of the above bar benders to make false statements to investigating officers of the ICAC.
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.