Duo in court for alleged bribery and fraud over school contracts
2015-2-4
A former secretary of a government-aided school and a proprietor of an engineering company appeared in the Shatin Magistracy today (Wednesday) after being charged by the ICAC with bribery and fraud respectively in relation to floor waxing and maintenance contracts of the school.
Ho Pui-weng, 56, former secretary of Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club Fung Yiu King Memorial Secondary School (FYKSS), and Yip Wing-keung, 56, proprietor of Wing Hang Engineering Company (Wing Hang), who were charged on Monday (February 2), faced a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.
Ho alone further faced three charges – one of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and two of fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendants today pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. Principal Magistrate Mr Andrew Ma Hon-cheung adjourned the case to March 3 this year for a pre-trial review.
At the material time, Ho was the secretary of FYKSS. Among his duties was to source quotations from various contractors for minor maintenance works.
One of the charges alleged that between June 1 and September 17, 2012, Ho and Yip conspired together to defraud FYKSS by dishonestly submitting false and misleading quotations to the school in respect of the contract for maintenance of the security sentry of the school and concealing from the school that the contract awarded to a construction engineering company was in fact performed by Wing Hang, of which Yip was the proprietor.
Two other charges alleged that between May 1 and August 30, 2013, Ho falsely represented to FYKSS that genuine quotations attached to two application forms in respect of two contracts, namely the water leakage repair work, and the painting work and installation of collision guard rack, had been obtained by Ho, and with intent to defraud, induced the school to award those contracts to Wing Hang without genuine quotation exercises.
The remaining charge alleged that on October 28, 2013, Ho, without lawful authority and reasonable excuse, solicited $6,700 from the proprietor of a janitorial services company as a reward for assisting in the award to the company of a floor waxing contract with the school.
Ho and Yip were each granted cash bail of $10,000. They were also ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
FYKSS had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jenny Chan.
Ho Pui-weng, 56, former secretary of Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club Fung Yiu King Memorial Secondary School (FYKSS), and Yip Wing-keung, 56, proprietor of Wing Hang Engineering Company (Wing Hang), who were charged on Monday (February 2), faced a joint charge of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.
Ho alone further faced three charges – one of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance; and two of fraud, contrary to Section 16A(1) of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendants today pleaded not guilty to their respective charges. Principal Magistrate Mr Andrew Ma Hon-cheung adjourned the case to March 3 this year for a pre-trial review.
At the material time, Ho was the secretary of FYKSS. Among his duties was to source quotations from various contractors for minor maintenance works.
One of the charges alleged that between June 1 and September 17, 2012, Ho and Yip conspired together to defraud FYKSS by dishonestly submitting false and misleading quotations to the school in respect of the contract for maintenance of the security sentry of the school and concealing from the school that the contract awarded to a construction engineering company was in fact performed by Wing Hang, of which Yip was the proprietor.
Two other charges alleged that between May 1 and August 30, 2013, Ho falsely represented to FYKSS that genuine quotations attached to two application forms in respect of two contracts, namely the water leakage repair work, and the painting work and installation of collision guard rack, had been obtained by Ho, and with intent to defraud, induced the school to award those contracts to Wing Hang without genuine quotation exercises.
The remaining charge alleged that on October 28, 2013, Ho, without lawful authority and reasonable excuse, solicited $6,700 from the proprietor of a janitorial services company as a reward for assisting in the award to the company of a floor waxing contract with the school.
Ho and Yip were each granted cash bail of $10,000. They were also ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
FYKSS had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Jenny Chan.