10 arrested by ICAC in housing project irregularities
發佈日期: 2025-05-21 23:40
TVB News
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has arrested 10 people after irregularities were found in the construction of housing blocks involving the Anderson Road "Starter Homes" initiative for locals.
Steel bars were slimmer and fewer in number than what were specified in the building plan. Among those arrested are subcontractors suspected of bribing the main contractor and the engineering supervisor of the project consultant.
The government has already suspended the project on Anderson Road last October, after discovering that in one of the towers at the site, at least four steel bars were missing as compared to the original layout.
The ICAC, along with the Buildings Department, claimed after further investigation that the problem was identified at all six residential towers.
The corruption watchdog said investigation results showed the steel bars used were thinner than what was specified in the building plan. Excessive spacing was also spotted between the bars, and some were even misaligned with a maximum of 530 millimetres.
According to their findings, a steel reinforcement subcontractor at the site allegedly engaged in "corner-cutting" and bribery, reducing the number both steel bars and workers to boost profits. The subcontractor allegedly bribed personnel from the main contractor and engineering consultancy firms with money, lavish meals, coupons and nightclub entertainment in exchange for false compliance reports certifying the substandard steelwork as compliant. Each remittance was worth 2,000 to 30,000 dollars.
Ten men aged between 29 and 52 was arrested last week, including a staff member of the main contractor, four employees of the consultancy firm responsible for overseeing the construction project, in exchange for lax supervision on steel reinforcement works.
The ICAC said it would continue its investigation into the amount of remittance involved, as well the construction cost saved.
MATTHEW CHANG, Principal Investigator, ICAC: "I would say this case is an isolation case, because from our experience in doing corruption cases in the construction sector, these findings are really uncommon, very rare. I would say we have already taken very fast action to stop these individuals from conducting further practice. Also, during our investigation, we do not see any further corrupt practice in this case in other construction projects."
The view was also echoed by the chairperson of the Construction Industry Council, Thomas Ho. He said the industry has a very strict set of guidelines that has been operating well.
THOMAS HO, Chairperson, Construction Industry Council: "Our procedures, our checking processes, are equivalent worldwide, and we are providing checks and balances in the right moment, the system is very robust. I feel this is quite sort of unique, quite occasional, it's really those people who intentionally cheat the system, abuse the system, and those people should be criticised, should be penalised, and should be outcast from our industry."
In response to the allegations, the CK Asset Holdings stated that it is in full support of the ICAC operation and claimed that it has already completed a preliminary round of review, adding it would discuss follow-up operations with the Buildings Department.
The Buildings Department says its inspection of the buildings found no structural risk, but added reinforcement works are needed.
