Kitchen supplier admits bribing manager for orders
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A kitchen equipment supplier pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on August 13 to offering an illegal rebate to a procurement manager at the Fook Lam Moon restaurant group in exchange for kitchenware orders. The defendant, Lai Ah-ho, owner of Cheuk Chin Kitchen Equipment Co. Ltd., admitted one count of offering an advantage to an agent under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. The court adjourned the case to November 12 so she can provide assistance to the prosecution, and she was granted bail in the meantime. The admitted bribe related to three orders worth more than HK$79,000 for a new Kowloon Bay outlet being prepared in December 2022.
Key Points
- Lai Ah-ho, reported as 55 or 56, is the owner of Cheuk Chin Kitchen Equipment Co. Ltd. and pleaded guilty in court on August 13.
- She admitted offering a 15 per cent kickback on three kitchenware orders, amounting to about HK$12,000 or specifically HK$11,780.
- The charge said the payment was made on December 25, 2022, to Kwan Chi-hung, then administrative and procurement manager of Fook Lam Moon Restaurant Ltd
- Prosecutors said the payment was intended as an inducement or reward for Fook Lam Moon Management Ltd. to place kitchenware orders with her company
- ICAC said Fook Lam Moon Group gave full assistance during the investigation into the bribery case linked to its planned Kowloon Bay branch
Why It Matters
The case shows how relatively small kickbacks can affect procurement decisions in Hong Kong’s food and catering sector, especially when businesses are opening new outlets. It also underlines the ICAC’s continued focus on private-sector bribery, not only corruption involving public officials.