Ex-employees of design firm charged with fraud and attempted fraud over $1.6m business diversion
2020-7-2
Two former employees of a design company have been charged by the ICAC today (July 2) with fraud and attempted fraud by diverting business amounting to over $1.6 million to their own company, falsely representing that the two companies were affiliated.
Flora Ma Yuet-shan and Chau Ho-pui, both 33, respectively former sales coordinator and former sales & marketing executive of Muse Design & Construction Limited (Muse), jointly face two charges – one of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendants will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (July 6) for plea.
Muse is a company specialised in exhibition and interior design. At the material time, Ma was Muse’s sales coordinator while Chau was its sales & marketing executive. In March 2017, the duo set up Artemis Design Engineering Limited (Artemis) which also engaged in exhibition and interior design business.
One of the charges alleges that between March 1 and 31, 2017, Ma and Chau falsely represented to a client of Muse that Artemis was a sub-contractor of Muse, with intent to defraud, attempted to induce the client to award an office renovation project to Artemis, which might result in benefit to Artemis or prejudice to the client.
It is alleged that Artemis had issued to the client a quotation for the renovation project at over $1.5 million.
Another charge alleges that between March 1 and July 28, 2017, Ma and Chau made the same false representation to the aforesaid client, with intent to defraud, induced the client to award three booth design and construction projects to Artemis, which resulted in benefit to Artemis or prejudice to the client.
The client was allegedly induced to engage Artemis to take up the projects at $164,500.
Muse and the client concerned have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance next Monday.
Flora Ma Yuet-shan and Chau Ho-pui, both 33, respectively former sales coordinator and former sales & marketing executive of Muse Design & Construction Limited (Muse), jointly face two charges – one of attempted fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance and Section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
The defendants will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts next Monday (July 6) for plea.
Muse is a company specialised in exhibition and interior design. At the material time, Ma was Muse’s sales coordinator while Chau was its sales & marketing executive. In March 2017, the duo set up Artemis Design Engineering Limited (Artemis) which also engaged in exhibition and interior design business.
One of the charges alleges that between March 1 and 31, 2017, Ma and Chau falsely represented to a client of Muse that Artemis was a sub-contractor of Muse, with intent to defraud, attempted to induce the client to award an office renovation project to Artemis, which might result in benefit to Artemis or prejudice to the client.
It is alleged that Artemis had issued to the client a quotation for the renovation project at over $1.5 million.
Another charge alleges that between March 1 and July 28, 2017, Ma and Chau made the same false representation to the aforesaid client, with intent to defraud, induced the client to award three booth design and construction projects to Artemis, which resulted in benefit to Artemis or prejudice to the client.
The client was allegedly induced to engage Artemis to take up the projects at $164,500.
Muse and the client concerned have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance next Monday.