Employee of interior design company charged by ICAC for $520,000 bribery over subcontracting renovation works

An employee of an interior design company was charged by the ICAC yesterday (October 22) for allegedly accepting bribes totalling about $520,000 from seven subcontractors for awarding renovation projects to them.

Pang Tsz-yeung, 46, then project supervisor of Elite House Design Limited (Elite House), faces seven counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 24) for mention.

At the material time, the defendant was a project supervisor of Elite House, an interior design company. He was authorised by the company to select subcontractors for clients’ renovation works. Elite House prohibited its employees from soliciting or accepting advantages from others for matters in relation to its businesses or affairs.

The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. It is alleged that between April 2016 and October 2023, the defendant had accepted bribes totalling about $520,000 from seven subcontractors for subcontracting to them Elite House’s renovation projects.

The ICAC investigation revealed that the aforesaid subcontractors reluctantly acceded to the defendant’s request for bribes for fear of his authority.

Elite House rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

An ICAC spokesperson notes that according to section 9 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, it is an offence for an agent (e.g. employee), without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to solicit or accept an advantage for an act in relation to his principal's businesses or affairs. Members of the public should reject and report to the ICAC immediately if they are asked to pay bribes in exchange for business contracts.