Ex-employee of fast food restaurant chain charged by ICAC for allegedly concealing conflict of interest in works contractor
2023-2-21
A former assistant engineer of a fast food restaurant chain was charged by the ICAC today (February 21) for allegedly deceiving the restaurant chain into awarding two works projects to a contractor by concealing that he was the latter’s major shareholder.
Chan Yiu-wa, 53, former assistant engineer of Café de Coral Group Limited (Café de Coral Group), faces two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (February 23) for plea.
The defendant was Café de Coral Group’s assistant engineer between February and early December 2021. Among other duties, he was responsible for sourcing quotations from contractors for engineering and maintenance works for a plant of Café de Coral Holdings Limited (Café de Coral Holdings) – the parent company of Café de Coral Group.
As set out in the employee handbook of Café de Coral Holdings, employees of Café de Coral Holdings and its subsidiaries should avoid conflict of interest. An employee must declare to Café de Coral Holdings if he or she has any interest in an organisation which has business dealings with Café de Coral Holdings and its subsidiaries.
Between April and October 2021, the defendant was alleged to have concealed from Café de Coral Holdings his interests in Leading Gain Engineering Co. Limited (Leading Gain), and with intent to defraud, induced Café de Coral Holdings to engage Leading Gain to carry out the replacement work of a security booth and the maintenance work of an air-conditioning system.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant was the sole director and major shareholder of Leading Gain at the material time. The abovementioned two works projects involved payments totalling about $70,000.
Café de Coral Holdings has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Chan Yiu-wa, 53, former assistant engineer of Café de Coral Group Limited (Café de Coral Group), faces two counts of fraud, contrary to Section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. The defendant was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance in the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (February 23) for plea.
The defendant was Café de Coral Group’s assistant engineer between February and early December 2021. Among other duties, he was responsible for sourcing quotations from contractors for engineering and maintenance works for a plant of Café de Coral Holdings Limited (Café de Coral Holdings) – the parent company of Café de Coral Group.
As set out in the employee handbook of Café de Coral Holdings, employees of Café de Coral Holdings and its subsidiaries should avoid conflict of interest. An employee must declare to Café de Coral Holdings if he or she has any interest in an organisation which has business dealings with Café de Coral Holdings and its subsidiaries.
Between April and October 2021, the defendant was alleged to have concealed from Café de Coral Holdings his interests in Leading Gain Engineering Co. Limited (Leading Gain), and with intent to defraud, induced Café de Coral Holdings to engage Leading Gain to carry out the replacement work of a security booth and the maintenance work of an air-conditioning system.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant was the sole director and major shareholder of Leading Gain at the material time. The abovementioned two works projects involved payments totalling about $70,000.
Café de Coral Holdings has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.