Man charged with bribery over vehicle examinations
2018-7-12
A partner of a car body decoration business has been charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to offer bribes to an approved car tester (ACT) of a designated car testing centre (DCTC) for passing vehicles with alterations in roadworthiness examinations.
Joe Kwok Chun-hei, 45, who was charged yesterday (July 11), faces one count of conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear in Tuen Mun Magistracy tomorrow (July 13) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant and his partner, who were members of a car owners club, were operating a car body decoration business. Through their friend, the duo came to know an ACT of a motor company, which had been running a DCTC of the Transport Department (TD) in Tuen Mun since 2015.
The charge alleges that between October 29, 2016 and July 10, 2017, the defendant conspired together with his partner and the ACT to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offer a total sum of $1,300 to the ACT, as rewards for disregarding defects or irregularities in vehicles referred by them to the motor company for annual vehicle examination and issuing certificates of roadworthiness in relation to the vehicles even if they were not eligible to pass the tests in the examination.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant and his partner had referred four vehicles with alterations to the ACT for roadworthiness examinations.
The TD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance tomorrow.
Joe Kwok Chun-hei, 45, who was charged yesterday (July 11), faces one count of conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear in Tuen Mun Magistracy tomorrow (July 13) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant and his partner, who were members of a car owners club, were operating a car body decoration business. Through their friend, the duo came to know an ACT of a motor company, which had been running a DCTC of the Transport Department (TD) in Tuen Mun since 2015.
The charge alleges that between October 29, 2016 and July 10, 2017, the defendant conspired together with his partner and the ACT to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offer a total sum of $1,300 to the ACT, as rewards for disregarding defects or irregularities in vehicles referred by them to the motor company for annual vehicle examination and issuing certificates of roadworthiness in relation to the vehicles even if they were not eligible to pass the tests in the examination.
ICAC enquiries revealed that the defendant and his partner had referred four vehicles with alterations to the ACT for roadworthiness examinations.
The TD has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance tomorrow.