Ex-site team leader admits conspiracy to accept bribes of $230,000 from Third Runway Project’s workers
2023-5-2
A former site team leader of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC, today (May 2) admitted at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts that he had conspired with another site team leader to accept bribes of about $230,000 from 29 riggers for securing their employment with the sub-contractor.
Liu Yin-man, 62, former leader of a team of riggers of MEL, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to July 11 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was granted bail.
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. In August 2020, the defendant was employed by MEL as site team leader of a team of riggers at the project’s construction site through the introduction of another site team leader. He subsequently introduced 29 riggers to work at the project’s construction site.
On the instruction of the site team leader, the defendant collected bribes totalling about $230,000 from the 29 riggers for the site team leader on seven occasions between September 2020 and March 2021. Since November 2020, the defendant kept about $15,500 of the bribes, and passed the remaining sum of over $210,000 to the site team leader according to their agreement.
In recent years, the ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against corrupt practices similar to the above-mentioned one. Regarding the Third Runway Project, 23 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the project were charged by the ICAC with bribery. Twelve of them, including the defendant in this case, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Ten others are awaiting plea or 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 offer advantages 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. As the relevant corruption investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Lai Yiu-wai and Cody Chung.
Liu Yin-man, 62, former leader of a team of riggers of MEL, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han adjourned the case to July 11 for sentence, pending a background report. The defendant was granted bail.
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. In August 2020, the defendant was employed by MEL as site team leader of a team of riggers at the project’s construction site through the introduction of another site team leader. He subsequently introduced 29 riggers to work at the project’s construction site.
On the instruction of the site team leader, the defendant collected bribes totalling about $230,000 from the 29 riggers for the site team leader on seven occasions between September 2020 and March 2021. Since November 2020, the defendant kept about $15,500 of the bribes, and passed the remaining sum of over $210,000 to the site team leader according to their agreement.
In recent years, the ICAC had taken a series of enforcement actions against corrupt practices similar to the above-mentioned one. Regarding the Third Runway Project, 23 former employees of the main contractor and a sub-contractor of the project were charged by the ICAC with bribery. Twelve of them, including the defendant in this case, had pleaded guilty or were found guilty after trial, receiving sentences up 10 months in jail. Ten others are awaiting plea or 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 offer advantages 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. As the relevant corruption investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Lai Yiu-wai and Cody Chung.