Particulars of Subjects

Defendant: Foreman of the engineering company

Aged about 40 of Indian descent, has been living in Hong Kong for almost 30 years and speaks fluent Cantonese. Well-built and agile.

Initially worked as a driver in the subcontracting company and later began to refer South Asian workers for jobs in construction sites. Taking advantage of his knowledge of Cantonese, the defendant took up the post of foreman and gradually served as a bridge of communication between the company and workers. The company also relied on him for the referral and management of workers.

First complainant: Construction worker A

Aged about 55 of Indian descent, has been living in Hong Kong for about 10 years and could only use simple Cantonese for daily communication.

His whole family residing in Hong Kong. While working as a casual worker in construction sites, he still looked for other job opportunities. In April 2016, he began to work at a construction site supervised by the defendant.

Second complainant: Construction worker B

The second complainant, aged about 50 of Indian descent, has come to Hong Kong for several years and had no knowledge of Cantonese at all.

Residing with his family members in a public housing flat, he has long been working as a casual worker in construction sites and was looking for other job opportunities. In June 2016, he began to work at a construction site supervised by the defendant.