28 nabbed in first task force raid against bid-rigging

On Friday, 28 individuals were apprehended in an operation targeting a suspected triad-linked bid-rigging syndicate, according to authorities. This marked the inaugural raid by a joint task force comprising police, the ICAC, and the Competition Commission, established following the Wang Fuk Court fire last year. The syndicate aimed to profit from the upcoming anti-bid-rigging measures set to take effect.

The group targeted at least 20 buildings or estates, involving 12 that had already awarded contracts and eight yet to award contracts, explained Secretary for Security Chris Tang. The syndicate utilized pretexts like fluctuating material prices and urgent work commencement to hasten contract signings, intending to secure the services of preferred engineering consultants and contractors to earn substantial profits at the eleventh hour. The awarded and pending contract amounts totaled approximately HK$100 million each.

Officials are set to reach out to owners and corporations of the affected estates to provide assistance. Among those arrested were directors, staff from a property management company, six contractors, and 10 consultancy firms, along with a member of an owners corporation. Several arrestees were suspected to have ties to triads and were charged with offenses including deception, forgery, conspiracy to defraud, and conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent.

Police also disrupted seven illegal premises allegedly controlled by triads across the city, leading to the arrest of 38 more individuals. Tang revealed that the syndicate allegedly diverted bid-rigging profits to illegal gambling dens and vice establishments. To bolster public cooperation, a 24-hour hotline and reward scheme have been implemented, ensuring information confidentiality.