Twelve charged with bribery and fraud over small house projects
2015-1-14
A small house developer and 11 indigenous villagers have been charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to defraud the Lands Department (LD) in relation to small house projects in the New Territories, with the developer accused of bribery.
The defendants, who were charged in the past two days (January 12 and 13), are David Li Yam-pui, 81, operator of Full Wealthy Development Limited (FWDL); Chan Chi-cheong, 51, Wong Cheuk-fan, 49, Wai Chun-kit, 33, Wai Chun-ho, 34, Wan Kwai-lun, 70, Cheng Kwok-wah, 56, Cheng Yu-wang, 54, Cheng Hing, 79, Yau Kwai-chu, 57, Wai Pak-hon, 31, and Ricky Lau Tak-sing, 46, all indigenous villagers.
Li alone faces one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Sections 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Li and 11 co-defendants face a total of seven counts of conspiracy to defraud, and two similar alternative charges, contrary to the Common Law.
The defendants, currently on ICAC bail, will appear at Eastern Magistracy tomorrow (January 15) for transfer to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, FWDL was a company set up by Li to hold land for property development.
One of the charges alleges that Li conspired with the chairman of the Shatin Rural Committee (SRC) for Li to offer advantages to the chairman as rewards for the chairman having shown favour to 22 applicants for building licence to the LD in relation to the dealings between the SRC and the LD.
The advantages allegedly offered by Li to the chairman of the SRC were not more than $200,000 for each of the eight indigenous villagers introduced by the chairman for building licence application.
Another charge alleges that Li, Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho and Wan conspired together and with the then secretary of FWDL to defraud the LD.
They are alleged to have falsely represented that Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho, Wan and other persons each had never entered into any agreement with any person to transfer, alienate, dispose or otherwise deal with the lot of land at which they each were respectively applying for construction of a small house by way of a building licence.
They are also alleged to have falsely represented that Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho, Wan and those persons each were the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective lot.
As a result of the alleged false representation, the LD was dishonestly caused to issue a building licence to each of Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho, Wan and those persons.
Li, Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit and Wai Chun-ho also jointly face an alternative charge of conspiracy to defraud, while Li and Wan face another similar alternative charge.
Li alone faces one count of conspiracy to defraud, while Li, Cheng Kwok-wah and Cheng Yu-wang face a similar joint charge. Li faces a joint charge with Cheng Hing, Yau, Wai Pak-hon and Lau each.
The above alleged offences took place between January 2008 and January 2011.
The LD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The defendants, who were charged in the past two days (January 12 and 13), are David Li Yam-pui, 81, operator of Full Wealthy Development Limited (FWDL); Chan Chi-cheong, 51, Wong Cheuk-fan, 49, Wai Chun-kit, 33, Wai Chun-ho, 34, Wan Kwai-lun, 70, Cheng Kwok-wah, 56, Cheng Yu-wang, 54, Cheng Hing, 79, Yau Kwai-chu, 57, Wai Pak-hon, 31, and Ricky Lau Tak-sing, 46, all indigenous villagers.
Li alone faces one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Sections 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Li and 11 co-defendants face a total of seven counts of conspiracy to defraud, and two similar alternative charges, contrary to the Common Law.
The defendants, currently on ICAC bail, will appear at Eastern Magistracy tomorrow (January 15) for transfer to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, FWDL was a company set up by Li to hold land for property development.
One of the charges alleges that Li conspired with the chairman of the Shatin Rural Committee (SRC) for Li to offer advantages to the chairman as rewards for the chairman having shown favour to 22 applicants for building licence to the LD in relation to the dealings between the SRC and the LD.
The advantages allegedly offered by Li to the chairman of the SRC were not more than $200,000 for each of the eight indigenous villagers introduced by the chairman for building licence application.
Another charge alleges that Li, Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho and Wan conspired together and with the then secretary of FWDL to defraud the LD.
They are alleged to have falsely represented that Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho, Wan and other persons each had never entered into any agreement with any person to transfer, alienate, dispose or otherwise deal with the lot of land at which they each were respectively applying for construction of a small house by way of a building licence.
They are also alleged to have falsely represented that Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho, Wan and those persons each were the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective lot.
As a result of the alleged false representation, the LD was dishonestly caused to issue a building licence to each of Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit, Wai Chun-ho, Wan and those persons.
Li, Chan, Wong, Wai Chun-kit and Wai Chun-ho also jointly face an alternative charge of conspiracy to defraud, while Li and Wan face another similar alternative charge.
Li alone faces one count of conspiracy to defraud, while Li, Cheng Kwok-wah and Cheng Yu-wang face a similar joint charge. Li faces a joint charge with Cheng Hing, Yau, Wai Pak-hon and Lau each.
The above alleged offences took place between January 2008 and January 2011.
The LD had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.