Property consultant jailed for bribery over renovation of flats in Malaysia
2020-4-21
A property consultant, charged by the ICAC, was today (April 21) sentenced to two months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy after admitting that he had accepted illegal rebates totalling over HK$42,000 for introducing a decoration company to Hong Kong flat-buyers of a real estate property in Malaysia.
Wu Ka-yau, 43, property consultant of CAJ Property Investments Pte Ltd (CAJ), was ordered by Magistrate Mr Lam Tsz-kan to pay over HK$42,000 as restitution to CAJ.
The defendant today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for an 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 CAJ is a real estate agency promoting overseas real estate properties to retail customers in Hong Kong. At the material time, the defendant was employed by CAJ as a property consultant. He was responsible for procuring the sale and purchase of overseas properties.
In 2016, CAJ became an agent of a real estate property in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which offered two types of flats for sale, namely bare flats with minimal decoration and fully-furnished flats. Property consultants of CAJ were required to recommend a decoration package arranged by CAJ for bare flat-buyers’ consideration.
Despite CAJ’s instruction, the defendant introduced the decoration package arranged by CAJ to four Hong Kong buyers and provided them with contact details of a partner of a Malaysian decoration company for price comparison.
The court heard that none of the buyers used the decoration package arranged by CAJ, and one of them engaged the abovementioned Malaysian decoration company for provision of decoration service.
Between May 16, 2017 and January 16, 2018, the defendant accepted over US$5,370, about HK$42,000, from the partner of the Malaysian decoration company through five remittances.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted having received “tea money” for referring clients to the Malaysian decoration company, the court heard.
CAJ had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Derek Cheung.
Wu Ka-yau, 43, property consultant of CAJ Property Investments Pte Ltd (CAJ), was ordered by Magistrate Mr Lam Tsz-kan to pay over HK$42,000 as restitution to CAJ.
The defendant today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for an 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 CAJ is a real estate agency promoting overseas real estate properties to retail customers in Hong Kong. At the material time, the defendant was employed by CAJ as a property consultant. He was responsible for procuring the sale and purchase of overseas properties.
In 2016, CAJ became an agent of a real estate property in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which offered two types of flats for sale, namely bare flats with minimal decoration and fully-furnished flats. Property consultants of CAJ were required to recommend a decoration package arranged by CAJ for bare flat-buyers’ consideration.
Despite CAJ’s instruction, the defendant introduced the decoration package arranged by CAJ to four Hong Kong buyers and provided them with contact details of a partner of a Malaysian decoration company for price comparison.
The court heard that none of the buyers used the decoration package arranged by CAJ, and one of them engaged the abovementioned Malaysian decoration company for provision of decoration service.
Between May 16, 2017 and January 16, 2018, the defendant accepted over US$5,370, about HK$42,000, from the partner of the Malaysian decoration company through five remittances.
When interviewed under caution by ICAC officers, the defendant admitted having received “tea money” for referring clients to the Malaysian decoration company, the court heard.
CAJ had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Derek Cheung.