Ex-manager of hotel jailed for bribery and fraud over IT contracts
2020-8-20
A former manager of a hotel, charged by the ICAC, was today (August 20) sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at the District Court for soliciting bribes of about $370,000 from an information technology (IT) contractor over service contracts, and deceiving the hotel into awarding service contracts worth about $440,000 to another IT contractor related to him.
Wilson Leung Chin-wai, 38, former senior IT manager of Victoria Park Hotels Limited (VPHL) trading in the name of The Park Lane Hong Kong (PLHK), was found guilty on Tuesday (August 18) of three counts of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
During the trial, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
In sentencing, Judge Mr Ernest Lin Kam-hung remarked that the case involved a premeditated scam which was not confined to an isolated incident.
The judge added that the imposition of a deterrent sentence on the defendant was necessary as the bribery and fraud offences he committed constituted a breach of trust and eroded the core values of the society.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a senior IT manager of VPHL and oversaw the daily operation of the IT Department of PLHK. In October 2014, the defendant set up W’s International Group Limited (WIGL), an IT company, of which he was the sole director and shareholder.
In December 2016, the defendant discussed with the proprietor of an approved IT contractor of PLHK about the renewal of five IT service contracts and solicited bribes totalling over $340,000 from the proprietor, equivalent to 10 to 40 per cent of the individual contract sums of the five contracts. The proprietor did not accede to the defendant’s solicitation.
When one of the five IT service contracts was due to expire, the defendant further solicited a bribe of about $25,000 from the proprietor in May 2017. The solicitation was also turned down.
The court also heard that between July 2016 and May 2017, PLHK had further awarded 20 IT service contracts worth totalling about $440,000 to a second approved IT contractor.
Upon the defendant’s request, those contracts were subcontracted to WIGL, which in return received over $340,000 for providing the required services to PLHK.
The defendant had never disclosed to PLHK his financial interests in WIGL, or declared any conflict of interest in the course of his employment with PLHK.
The court also heard that in late July 2016, the defendant told PLHK that a contractor had to be engaged urgently to disassemble 80 computers for recycling. The contract was subsequently awarded to the aforesaid second IT contractor.
The defendant claimed that the service was carried out by WIGL and requested the second contractor to pay $4,000 to WIGL. In fact, the computers were disassembled by employees of PLHK.
VPHL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sabrina See, assisted by ICAC officer Jack Leung.
Wilson Leung Chin-wai, 38, former senior IT manager of Victoria Park Hotels Limited (VPHL) trading in the name of The Park Lane Hong Kong (PLHK), was found guilty on Tuesday (August 18) of three counts of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
During the trial, the defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.
In sentencing, Judge Mr Ernest Lin Kam-hung remarked that the case involved a premeditated scam which was not confined to an isolated incident.
The judge added that the imposition of a deterrent sentence on the defendant was necessary as the bribery and fraud offences he committed constituted a breach of trust and eroded the core values of the society.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a senior IT manager of VPHL and oversaw the daily operation of the IT Department of PLHK. In October 2014, the defendant set up W’s International Group Limited (WIGL), an IT company, of which he was the sole director and shareholder.
In December 2016, the defendant discussed with the proprietor of an approved IT contractor of PLHK about the renewal of five IT service contracts and solicited bribes totalling over $340,000 from the proprietor, equivalent to 10 to 40 per cent of the individual contract sums of the five contracts. The proprietor did not accede to the defendant’s solicitation.
When one of the five IT service contracts was due to expire, the defendant further solicited a bribe of about $25,000 from the proprietor in May 2017. The solicitation was also turned down.
The court also heard that between July 2016 and May 2017, PLHK had further awarded 20 IT service contracts worth totalling about $440,000 to a second approved IT contractor.
Upon the defendant’s request, those contracts were subcontracted to WIGL, which in return received over $340,000 for providing the required services to PLHK.
The defendant had never disclosed to PLHK his financial interests in WIGL, or declared any conflict of interest in the course of his employment with PLHK.
The court also heard that in late July 2016, the defendant told PLHK that a contractor had to be engaged urgently to disassemble 80 computers for recycling. The contract was subsequently awarded to the aforesaid second IT contractor.
The defendant claimed that the service was carried out by WIGL and requested the second contractor to pay $4,000 to WIGL. In fact, the computers were disassembled by employees of PLHK.
VPHL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Sabrina See, assisted by ICAC officer Jack Leung.