Ex-welder of engineering company admits bribery over job referrals
2018-11-23
A former welder of an engineering company, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the West Kowloon Magistracy today (November 23) that he had accepted illegal “referral fees” for referring two men to work as welders for the company.
Chu Wing-chung, 61, former welder of Shun Fat Engineering Company (SFE), pleaded guilty to three charges of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. The prosecution offered no evidence to two other charges of agent soliciting an advantage against him.
Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Ada Yim Shun-yee remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department until December 7 for sentence, pending his background and community service order reports.
The acting principle magistrate remarked that the case involved exploitation of workers. She might impose a custodial sentence on the defendant in view of the seriousness of his offences.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a welder of SFE working at a construction site of a commercial building in Cheung Sha Wan. In December 2016, the defendant was asked by the proprietor of SFE to introduce other welders to work for SFE at the construction site.
In late December 2016, two men knew that the defendant was recruiting welders for the construction site. They called the defendant for assistance in finding a job.
The defendant offered to introduce them to “the Boss” or the “Big Brother” at the construction site who would recruit them at a daily wage of $1,400. But $100 had to be given to “the Boss” or the “Big Brother” daily as a “referral fee”.
The two men were subsequently employed by SFE as welders to work at the construction site for four consecutive working days.
On December 31, 2016, upon the defendant’s request, the two welders paid him a total of $800 as “referral fees” for their four days’ work.
The court heard that in early January 2017, one of the welders continued to work for SFE at the construction site for six working days. Upon the defendant’s request, the worker paid him a total of $600 as “referral fees”.
ICAC enquiries revealed that there was no “Big Brother” or “Big Boss” in SFE or at the construction site. The defendant had not sought any approval from the proprietor of SFE for soliciting or accepting “referral fees” from its welders.
SFE had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Paul Lau.
Chu Wing-chung, 61, former welder of Shun Fat Engineering Company (SFE), pleaded guilty to three charges of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. The prosecution offered no evidence to two other charges of agent soliciting an advantage against him.
Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Ada Yim Shun-yee remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department until December 7 for sentence, pending his background and community service order reports.
The acting principle magistrate remarked that the case involved exploitation of workers. She might impose a custodial sentence on the defendant in view of the seriousness of his offences.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a welder of SFE working at a construction site of a commercial building in Cheung Sha Wan. In December 2016, the defendant was asked by the proprietor of SFE to introduce other welders to work for SFE at the construction site.
In late December 2016, two men knew that the defendant was recruiting welders for the construction site. They called the defendant for assistance in finding a job.
The defendant offered to introduce them to “the Boss” or the “Big Brother” at the construction site who would recruit them at a daily wage of $1,400. But $100 had to be given to “the Boss” or the “Big Brother” daily as a “referral fee”.
The two men were subsequently employed by SFE as welders to work at the construction site for four consecutive working days.
On December 31, 2016, upon the defendant’s request, the two welders paid him a total of $800 as “referral fees” for their four days’ work.
The court heard that in early January 2017, one of the welders continued to work for SFE at the construction site for six working days. Upon the defendant’s request, the worker paid him a total of $600 as “referral fees”.
ICAC enquiries revealed that there was no “Big Brother” or “Big Boss” in SFE or at the construction site. The defendant had not sought any approval from the proprietor of SFE for soliciting or accepting “referral fees” from its welders.
SFE had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during the investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Paul Lau.