HKU associate professor charged in HK$2.2 million bribery case
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has charged Wong Ka-wai, an associate professor in the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Education, over allegations that he accepted about HK$2.2 million in cash bribes from a service provider. Prosecutors allege the payments were tied to seven IT education project procurement orders for primary and secondary schools, with a total value exceeding HK$10 million. Three other defendants were also charged, including the supplier, his wife and his nephew, while all four additionally face fraud charges involving HK$120,000 in service fees paid by HKU. The four were granted bail and are due to appear at Eastern Magistrates' Courts next Monday for transfer to the District Court for plea.
Key Points
- The four defendants are Wong Ka-wai, 45; service provider Suen Man-ho, 56; his wife Chu Wai-yi, 57; and nephew Cheung Chun, 26.
- Wong and Suen face nine counts of conspiracy for a public servant to accept an advantage under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Crimes Ordinance
- The alleged offences took place from August 2023 to June 2026, when Wong also headed HKU's Centre for Information Technology in Education.
- ICAC alleges Wong agreed to receive 10% to 50% of each awarded contract after procurement orders were granted to Suen's two companies.
- The fraud charges allege false claims that Chu and Cheung provided development research services, inducing HKU to pay them HK$120,000.
Why It Matters
The case concerns projects funded through university procurement procedures and supported by bodies including the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Quality Education Fund, placing scrutiny on how public-interest education money is awarded. It also touches on technology learning programmes for schools, including a virtual reality primary e-learning platform and an emerging technology scheme for senior secondary students