Duo jailed for accepting $160,000 illegal ‘referral fees’ from metal scaffolders
2017-9-1
Two former site supervisors of a construction company, charged by the ICAC, were today (September 1) each sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at the Kowloon City Magistracy for conspiracy to accept illegal “referral fees” of over $160,000 in total from nine metal scaffolders for arranging and procuring their employment by the company.
Huang Liangning, 43, former site supervisor of Chun Wo Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd. (Chun Wo), and Fan Pingrui, 47, former site supervisor of Chun Wo, were each ordered by Magistrate Miss Wong Sze-lai to repay over $80,000 as restitution to Chun Wo.
In sentencing, the magistrate said the defendants deserved custodial sentences as they premeditated the scam to accept illegal “referral fees” of over $160,000 from metal scaffolders in about a year.
Huang and Fan earlier pleaded guilty to nine joint charges of conspiracy to accept an advantage as agents, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, Huang and Fan were employed by Chun Wo as site supervisors to supervise metal scaffolders at the construction site of Whampoa Station of the MTR Corporation Limited. They could refer metal scaffolders to work at the construction site.
The daily wage of a metal scaffolder was $1,100 and the salaries would be paid to them by Chun Wo through bank transfer on a monthly basis.
Between February 2015 and early February 2016, Huang and/or Fan referred nine persons to work as metal scaffolders and told them to refund $150 to $250 per day to Fan, who was responsible for collecting the refunds from them and making records, the court heard.
The nine persons paid sums of money ranging from $2,750 to $31,200, and totalling $164,375, to Huang and Fan.
Most of them believed that they would lose their jobs if they did not do so, while some understood that the refunds were “referral fees” for introducing them to work for Chun Wo, the court was told.
Chun Wo had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Joe Gza Li.
Huang Liangning, 43, former site supervisor of Chun Wo Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd. (Chun Wo), and Fan Pingrui, 47, former site supervisor of Chun Wo, were each ordered by Magistrate Miss Wong Sze-lai to repay over $80,000 as restitution to Chun Wo.
In sentencing, the magistrate said the defendants deserved custodial sentences as they premeditated the scam to accept illegal “referral fees” of over $160,000 from metal scaffolders in about a year.
Huang and Fan earlier pleaded guilty to nine joint charges of conspiracy to accept an advantage as agents, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
The court heard that at the material time, Huang and Fan were employed by Chun Wo as site supervisors to supervise metal scaffolders at the construction site of Whampoa Station of the MTR Corporation Limited. They could refer metal scaffolders to work at the construction site.
The daily wage of a metal scaffolder was $1,100 and the salaries would be paid to them by Chun Wo through bank transfer on a monthly basis.
Between February 2015 and early February 2016, Huang and/or Fan referred nine persons to work as metal scaffolders and told them to refund $150 to $250 per day to Fan, who was responsible for collecting the refunds from them and making records, the court heard.
The nine persons paid sums of money ranging from $2,750 to $31,200, and totalling $164,375, to Huang and Fan.
Most of them believed that they would lose their jobs if they did not do so, while some understood that the refunds were “referral fees” for introducing them to work for Chun Wo, the court was told.
Chun Wo had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Joe Gza Li.