Two months’ jail for bribing inspector of WSD over plumbing work
2018-4-3
A licensed plumber, charged by the ICAC, was today (April 3) sentenced to two months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy after admitting that he had bribed an inspector of the Water Supplies Department (WSD) for approval of the plumbing work conducted by him.
Lai Tak-yin, 76, pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen said the offence of offering an advantage to a public servant was serious in nature as probity was a core value of Hong Kong.
The principal magistrate added that he reduced the jail term to two months from the starting point of three months after taking into account various mitigating factors, including the defendant’s guilty plea and old age.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by WSD, which had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a licensed plumber, who was engaged to conduct plumbing work at a premises of a commercial building in Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong, and to apply to WSD for supply of water to the premises.
On August 14, 2017, a Consumer Services Inspector (CSI) of WSD and his colleague attended the premises to inspect the plumbing work. After inspection, the CSI found a number of defects and asked the defendant to fix them.
The court heard that upon completion of the remedial work, the defendant asked for a second inspection. On October 27, 2017, the CSI attended the premises to perform the inspection alone.
At the beginning of the inspection in a water meter room, the CSI questioned the defendant about the brand of water pipes. At that juncture, the defendant offered cash of about $500 to the CSI.
Understanding that the money was a bribe, the CSI refused to accept it and told the defendant that he would report the matter to his supervisor. WSD then referred the case to the ICAC, resulting in the arrest of the defendant on November 2, 2017.
The court was told that when interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant agreed that he would not have offered the money to the CSI if the latter was not a staff member of WSD, or had the work already been approved during the inspection on August 14, 2017.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Ally Cheung and Edward Wong.
Lai Tak-yin, 76, pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to a public servant, contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Mr Peter Law Tak-chuen said the offence of offering an advantage to a public servant was serious in nature as probity was a core value of Hong Kong.
The principal magistrate added that he reduced the jail term to two months from the starting point of three months after taking into account various mitigating factors, including the defendant’s guilty plea and old age.
The case arose from a corruption complaint referred by WSD, which had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a licensed plumber, who was engaged to conduct plumbing work at a premises of a commercial building in Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong, and to apply to WSD for supply of water to the premises.
On August 14, 2017, a Consumer Services Inspector (CSI) of WSD and his colleague attended the premises to inspect the plumbing work. After inspection, the CSI found a number of defects and asked the defendant to fix them.
The court heard that upon completion of the remedial work, the defendant asked for a second inspection. On October 27, 2017, the CSI attended the premises to perform the inspection alone.
At the beginning of the inspection in a water meter room, the CSI questioned the defendant about the brand of water pipes. At that juncture, the defendant offered cash of about $500 to the CSI.
Understanding that the money was a bribe, the CSI refused to accept it and told the defendant that he would report the matter to his supervisor. WSD then referred the case to the ICAC, resulting in the arrest of the defendant on November 2, 2017.
The court was told that when interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant agreed that he would not have offered the money to the CSI if the latter was not a staff member of WSD, or had the work already been approved during the inspection on August 14, 2017.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Ally Cheung and Edward Wong.