Director of engineering firm charged with $1m bribery over water pipes project at housing estate
2018-8-24
A director of an engineering company has been charged by the ICAC today (August 24) with conspiracy to offer bribes of about $1 million to the operator of a building consultant company for expediting the certification of payments for and exercising lax supervision in an underground water pipes replacement project at a Tenants Purchase Scheme (TPS) estate in Wong Tai Sin.
Chan Suen-tong, 55, a director cum shareholder of East Vantage Engineering Limited (EVE), faces one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear in the Kowloon City Magistracy next Tuesday (August 28) for transfer to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was a director cum shareholder of EVE, which was subcontracted by the main contractor to conduct the underground water pipes replacement project at Chuk Yuen North Estate (CYNE), a TPS estate in Wong Tai Sin.
A building consultant company was appointed by the Incorporated Owners (IO) of CYNE in February 2013 to oversee the project.
The charge alleges that between October 28, 2013 and July 31, 2016, the defendant conspired together with the operator of the building consultant company to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offer a total sum of about $1 million to the operator as rewards for expediting the certification of payments for the project that were to be made to the main contractor, and exercising lax supervision over the works conducted by EVE in relation to the project.
The IO of CYNE 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 next Tuesday.
Chan Suen-tong, 55, a director cum shareholder of East Vantage Engineering Limited (EVE), faces one count of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendant will appear in the Kowloon City Magistracy next Tuesday (August 28) for transfer to the District Court for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was a director cum shareholder of EVE, which was subcontracted by the main contractor to conduct the underground water pipes replacement project at Chuk Yuen North Estate (CYNE), a TPS estate in Wong Tai Sin.
A building consultant company was appointed by the Incorporated Owners (IO) of CYNE in February 2013 to oversee the project.
The charge alleges that between October 28, 2013 and July 31, 2016, the defendant conspired together with the operator of the building consultant company to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offer a total sum of about $1 million to the operator as rewards for expediting the certification of payments for the project that were to be made to the main contractor, and exercising lax supervision over the works conducted by EVE in relation to the project.
The IO of CYNE 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 next Tuesday.