Four property agents charged with bribery, fraud over sale and lease of flats
2020-8-25
A former manager and three serving estate agents of a property agency have been charged by the ICAC today (August 25) with deceiving the agency into paying commissions totalling over $64,000 to one of the estate agents by falsely representing her involvements in five property transactions, and accepting a bribe of $23,000 from a client.
The defendants are Cheung Yin-sang, 57, former branch manager of Ricacorp Properties Limited (Ricacorp); and Dawna Chow Hiu-ying, 35; Lan Lixiang, 34; and Law Kok-cheung, 34, all estate agents of Ricacorp.
Cheung, Chow and Lan jointly face five counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. Cheung and Law also jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (August 27) for plea.
At the material time, Cheung was a branch manager of Ricacorp posted to a branch in Yuen Long. Chow, Lan and Law were estate agents under the supervision of Cheung, responsible for procuring property transactions. Details of each transaction would be stated in a confirmed transaction coversheet (CTC) prepared by staff members of Ricacorp.
Three fraud charges allege that between March 1 and June 15, 2018, Cheung, Chow and Lan conspired together to defraud Ricacorp by dishonestly falsely representing that Lan was entitled to 80 per cent to 95 per cent of the commissions for the lease of three properties in Yuen Long as sales turnover as stated in three CTCs, causing Ricacorp to grant commissions totalling over $8,200 to Lan.
Two other fraud charges allege that between March 2 and August 17, 2018, the trio conspired together to defraud Ricacorp by dishonestly falsely representing that Lan was entitled to 70 per cent and 100 per cent of the commissions for the sale and purchase of two other properties in Yuen Long as sales turnover as stated in two CTCs, causing Ricacorp to grant commissions totalling about $56,000 to Lan.
The remaining charge alleges that between March 18 and July 4, 2018, Cheung and Law conspired together for Law, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to accept a commission consisting of $23,000 from a client of Ricacorp as an inducement to or reward for assisting in the sale of one of the two aforesaid properties.
Ricacorp has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Thursday.
The defendants are Cheung Yin-sang, 57, former branch manager of Ricacorp Properties Limited (Ricacorp); and Dawna Chow Hiu-ying, 35; Lan Lixiang, 34; and Law Kok-cheung, 34, all estate agents of Ricacorp.
Cheung, Chow and Lan jointly face five counts of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. Cheung and Law also jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The defendants will appear in the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (August 27) for plea.
At the material time, Cheung was a branch manager of Ricacorp posted to a branch in Yuen Long. Chow, Lan and Law were estate agents under the supervision of Cheung, responsible for procuring property transactions. Details of each transaction would be stated in a confirmed transaction coversheet (CTC) prepared by staff members of Ricacorp.
Three fraud charges allege that between March 1 and June 15, 2018, Cheung, Chow and Lan conspired together to defraud Ricacorp by dishonestly falsely representing that Lan was entitled to 80 per cent to 95 per cent of the commissions for the lease of three properties in Yuen Long as sales turnover as stated in three CTCs, causing Ricacorp to grant commissions totalling over $8,200 to Lan.
Two other fraud charges allege that between March 2 and August 17, 2018, the trio conspired together to defraud Ricacorp by dishonestly falsely representing that Lan was entitled to 70 per cent and 100 per cent of the commissions for the sale and purchase of two other properties in Yuen Long as sales turnover as stated in two CTCs, causing Ricacorp to grant commissions totalling about $56,000 to Lan.
The remaining charge alleges that between March 18 and July 4, 2018, Cheung and Law conspired together for Law, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to accept a commission consisting of $23,000 from a client of Ricacorp as an inducement to or reward for assisting in the sale of one of the two aforesaid properties.
Ricacorp has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The defendants have been released on ICAC bail, pending their court appearance on Thursday.