Former cleaning worker sentenced for bribery over garbage disposal service
2019-12-4
A then cleaning worker, charged by the ICAC, was today (December 4) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistracy for conspiracy to accept bribes for discarding a massive amount of garbage for a food manufacturer tenant of an industrial building.
Tuen Mung-sha, 58, former cleaning worker of Garloon Cleaning Service Company Limited (Garloon), was ordered by Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming to perform 100 hours of community service. In her last appearance before the magistrate, the defendant was ordered to pay $900 as restitution to Garloon.
In sentencing, the magistrate said that bribery was a serious offence, but a community service order was meted out after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and remorse. The magistrate added that the offence lasted a relatively short period, and not substantial amount of bribes were involved.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by Garloon as a cleaning worker and was deployed to work at an industrial building in Kwai Chung. A supervisor of a property management company engaged by the building was responsible for overseeing her work.
As a cleaning contractor, Garloon was required to provide cleaning services at the common area of the building. The services did not include the disposal of any massive amount of industrial garbage of individual tenants or owners.
Should a tenant or owner request to discard a massive amount of garbage, the tenant or owner was required to notify Garloon for quoting a garbage management fee, the court heard.
In May 2017, the defendant was instructed by the abovementioned supervisor not to discard the massive amount of watery garbage produced by a food manufacturer tenant.
The defendant was also asked to solicit a monthly payment of $800 from the tenant, and to share half of the payment with the supervisor. She acceded to the request and made a solicitation to the tenant. The tenant eventually agreed to pay $500 per month to the defendant.
The court heard that between May 1 and September 29, 2017, the defendant received approximately $1,500 from the tenant and gave $600 in total to the supervisor.
Garloon and the property management company concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Wincy Lai.
Tuen Mung-sha, 58, former cleaning worker of Garloon Cleaning Service Company Limited (Garloon), was ordered by Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming to perform 100 hours of community service. In her last appearance before the magistrate, the defendant was ordered to pay $900 as restitution to Garloon.
In sentencing, the magistrate said that bribery was a serious offence, but a community service order was meted out after taking into account the defendant’s guilty plea and remorse. The magistrate added that the offence lasted a relatively short period, and not substantial amount of bribes were involved.
The defendant earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was employed by Garloon as a cleaning worker and was deployed to work at an industrial building in Kwai Chung. A supervisor of a property management company engaged by the building was responsible for overseeing her work.
As a cleaning contractor, Garloon was required to provide cleaning services at the common area of the building. The services did not include the disposal of any massive amount of industrial garbage of individual tenants or owners.
Should a tenant or owner request to discard a massive amount of garbage, the tenant or owner was required to notify Garloon for quoting a garbage management fee, the court heard.
In May 2017, the defendant was instructed by the abovementioned supervisor not to discard the massive amount of watery garbage produced by a food manufacturer tenant.
The defendant was also asked to solicit a monthly payment of $800 from the tenant, and to share half of the payment with the supervisor. She acceded to the request and made a solicitation to the tenant. The tenant eventually agreed to pay $500 per month to the defendant.
The court heard that between May 1 and September 29, 2017, the defendant received approximately $1,500 from the tenant and gave $600 in total to the supervisor.
Garloon and the property management company concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Wincy Lai.