Team leader of transitional housing project’s bar-bending subcontractor charged by ICAC for accepting $50,000 bribes from worker

A team leader of a bar-bending subcontractor of a transitional housing project in Yuen Long was charged by the ICAC today (June 8) for allegedly accepting bribes totalling over $50,000 from a bar-bender in a span of five months for continuing the latter’s employment.

Chan Kong-on, 33, then bar-bending team leader of Long Engineering Limited (Long Engineering), faces seven counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. He was released on bail, pending his appearance at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts for plea on Wednesday (June 10).

At the material time, Long Engineering was a bar-bending subcontractor of a transitional housing project at Pat Heung in Yuen Long. The defendant was a team leader at the construction site responsible for recruiting bar-benders, supervising them and distributing pay-cheques to them.

The charges allege that in the five months between October 2023 and February 2024, the defendant accepted seven bribes totalling over $50,000 from a bar-bender under his supervision for continuing the latter’s employment with Long Engineering.

Long Engineering does not allow its employees to accept any advantages in relation to its business or affairs. The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. Inquiries revealed that the defendant allegedly solicited a bribe of $500 per day from the bar-bender soon after the latter was employed at a daily wage of $2,450. The bar-bender acceded to the defendant’s request as he believed that he would lose his job if he did not pay bribes.

Long Engineering rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

An ICAC spokesperson notes that the Commission has zero tolerance for corruption. If construction workers are asked to pay bribes in exchange for their employment, they should reject and report to the ICAC immediately. ICAC’s report corruption hotline: 25 266 366.

Reference URL: https://www.icac.org.hk/en/p/press/index_id_4964.html

Source industry: Construction