A CK Asset residential project in Hong Kong has been caught up in a bribery scandal after the city’s graft-buster uncovered subcontractors allegedly offering incentives to site supervisors in exchange for lax oversight of subpar steel reinforcement work.
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The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Wednesday that of 10 suspects, aged 29 to 52, arrested in connection with the case, one was an employee of the main contractor, five worked for several subcontractors and four were site supervisors at an engineering consultancy.
At the centre of the controversy is CK Asset’s Anderson Road project in Kwun Tong, which consists of six residential towers providing 2,926 flats, including about 1,000 that are designated under a “starter homes” pilot scheme for residents.
The ICAC said some individuals allegedly provided illicit incentives to site supervisors in exchange for lenient oversight of subpar construction practices.
The perks included cash rewards ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars, a large number of mooncake vouchers, lavish meals at high-end restaurants costing thousands per person, and entertainment at nightclubs costing between HK$20,000 (US$2,560) and HK$30,000 on each occasion, the anti-corruption agency said.
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Those arrested are suspected to have committed offences including bribery, accepting bribes, conspiracy to defraud and using false instruments.