A former site team leader of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project) was today (April 11) sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for accepting illegal rebates from two general workers for securing their employment with the sub-contractor.

So Shun-tai, 47, former general works site team leader of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL), earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

Acting Principal Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han also ordered the defendant to pay $6,600, being the illegal rebates involved in the case, as restitution to MEL.

The court heard that at the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. The defendant was employed by MEL as site team leader of a team of general workers at the project’s construction site.

Between June and September 2020, the defendant conspired together with two employees of the main contractor to accept totaling $6,600 from two general workers in his team for assisting the latter to secure and continue their employment with MEL.

A total of 21 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project were earlier charged by the ICAC with bribery over workers’ employment. Eleven of them, including the defendant in this case, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Nine others are awaiting trial, while the prosecution offered no evidence against a defendant.

An ICAC spokesperson urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to pay illegal rebates in exchange for their employment, they should report to the ICAC immediately. Report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.

The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the relevant main contractor SAPR JV and MEL had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Lai Yiu-wai and Cyrus Chan.