Duo charged with bribery over columbarium construction
2019-10-15
An employee of a construction company and a hardware retailer have been charged by the ICAC today (October 15) with bribery in relation to hardware supplies for the construction of a private columbarium.
Leung Wai-lun, 31, assistant project manager of Wai Tat Foundation & Engineering Limited (Wai Tat), faces two counts of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Leung and co-defendant Lai Maojian, 40, proprietor of San Hang Fat Metal Company (San Hang fat), are also jointly charged with one count of conspiracy for agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear at the Tuen Mun Magistracy on Thursday (October 17) for plea.
At the material time, Leung was the assistant project manager of Wai Tat responsible for overseeing construction work at a private columbarium at Tsing Shan Tsuen in Tuen Mun.
In around July 2017, Leung was assigned to identify a hardware retailer to supply hardware and equipment for the construction work.
The two soliciting charges allege that between July 1 and 28, 2017, Leung, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, respectively solicited from Lai and another hardware retailer commissions consisting of sums equivalent to 10 per cent of the value of the goods to be supplied by these two hardware retailers, as inducements to or rewards for assisting them to secure purchase orders from Wai Tat.
The conspiracy charge alleges that between July 29, 2017 and August 29, 2018, Leung and Lai conspired together for Leung to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept commissions consisting of an amount of money equivalent to five per cent of the value of the goods to be supplied by San Hang Fat to Wai Tat, as an inducement to or reward for assisting San Hang Fat to secure purchase orders from Wai Tat.
It is alleged that the goods sourced from San Hang Fat worth about $200,000 while the illegal commissions concerned was about $9,600.
Wai Tat has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Thursday.
Leung Wai-lun, 31, assistant project manager of Wai Tat Foundation & Engineering Limited (Wai Tat), faces two counts of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).
Leung and co-defendant Lai Maojian, 40, proprietor of San Hang Fat Metal Company (San Hang fat), are also jointly charged with one count of conspiracy for agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear at the Tuen Mun Magistracy on Thursday (October 17) for plea.
At the material time, Leung was the assistant project manager of Wai Tat responsible for overseeing construction work at a private columbarium at Tsing Shan Tsuen in Tuen Mun.
In around July 2017, Leung was assigned to identify a hardware retailer to supply hardware and equipment for the construction work.
The two soliciting charges allege that between July 1 and 28, 2017, Leung, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, respectively solicited from Lai and another hardware retailer commissions consisting of sums equivalent to 10 per cent of the value of the goods to be supplied by these two hardware retailers, as inducements to or rewards for assisting them to secure purchase orders from Wai Tat.
The conspiracy charge alleges that between July 29, 2017 and August 29, 2018, Leung and Lai conspired together for Leung to, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, accept commissions consisting of an amount of money equivalent to five per cent of the value of the goods to be supplied by San Hang Fat to Wai Tat, as an inducement to or reward for assisting San Hang Fat to secure purchase orders from Wai Tat.
It is alleged that the goods sourced from San Hang Fat worth about $200,000 while the illegal commissions concerned was about $9,600.
Wai Tat has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Thursday.