3 March, 2020
In November 2019, the ICAC laid charges of misconduct in public office, conspiracy to defraud and forgery against four individuals in relation to around 50 minor renovation works at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
It is alleged that three staff members of two student colleges at the University committed misconducted in the course of their public offices by dishonestly favouring a renovation company owner, who is the brother-in-law of one of the staff members. The staff members allegedly approved the procurement of renovation projects without disclosing the conflict of interests. By concealing the fact that a conflict of interest existed, the staff members fraudulently induced the University to approve the funding and expenditure of the renovation projects undertaken by the brother-in-law.
One of the staff members was also found to have made false representations that certain quotations were genuine and competitive when in fact they were made up, and allegedly committed forgery by submitting a number of false quotations.
For further information, please contact:
Kyle Wombolt, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
kyle.wombolt@hsf.com