Ex-foreman charged with bribery and fraud over employment of construction workers
2020-8-17
A former foreman of a construction subcontractor has been charged by the ICAC today (August 17) with bribery and fraud involving illegal rebates and salary payments totaling about $38,000 solicited and collected from four workers recruited by him.
Cheung Hiu-fai, 59, former foreman of Leung Pui Form Mould & Engineering Company Limited (LPF), faces nine charges – one of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; one of agent soliciting an advantage and seven of agent accepting an advantage, all contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant will appear in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (August 19) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was a foreman of LPF, which was a formwork subcontractor. In May 2017, LPF was awarded a formwork project at a construction site in Sai Wan. The defendant was assigned to recruit workers for the project.
The fraud charge alleges that between December 4, 2017 and May 18, 2018, the defendant falsely represented to a worker that he was required to reimburse part of his salary to LPF according to company policy, and with intent to defraud, induced the worker to pay the defendant totaling over $18,000, which resulted in benefit to the defendant or in prejudice to the worker.
A bribery charge alleges that between March 5 and 31, 2018, the defendant solicited approximately $350 per working day from another worker as an inducement to or reward for securing the worker’s employment with LPF.
It is alleged that the solicitation involved $4,800.
Seven other bribery charges allege that between February 14 and June 7, 2018, the defendant accepted $14,900 in total from two other workers as an inducement to or reward for securing their employment with LPF.
LPF has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Wednesday.
Cheung Hiu-fai, 59, former foreman of Leung Pui Form Mould & Engineering Company Limited (LPF), faces nine charges – one of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance; one of agent soliciting an advantage and seven of agent accepting an advantage, all contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
The defendant will appear in the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (August 19) for plea.
At the material time, the defendant was a foreman of LPF, which was a formwork subcontractor. In May 2017, LPF was awarded a formwork project at a construction site in Sai Wan. The defendant was assigned to recruit workers for the project.
The fraud charge alleges that between December 4, 2017 and May 18, 2018, the defendant falsely represented to a worker that he was required to reimburse part of his salary to LPF according to company policy, and with intent to defraud, induced the worker to pay the defendant totaling over $18,000, which resulted in benefit to the defendant or in prejudice to the worker.
A bribery charge alleges that between March 5 and 31, 2018, the defendant solicited approximately $350 per working day from another worker as an inducement to or reward for securing the worker’s employment with LPF.
It is alleged that the solicitation involved $4,800.
Seven other bribery charges allege that between February 14 and June 7, 2018, the defendant accepted $14,900 in total from two other workers as an inducement to or reward for securing their employment with LPF.
LPF has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendant has been released on ICAC bail, pending his court appearance on Wednesday.