A former professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology wanted in relation to a procurement fraud totaling about HK$4 million was arrested in Poland in late April, the ICAC said on Tuesday.
Yeung Lam-lung, 59, former adjunct associate professor of the Department of Chemistry of HKUST, faces a total of 17 charges, including three of conspiracy to defraud and 14 of fraud.
In late April, the ICAC was informed by Interpol that Yeung was detained by the Polish authorities at an international airport of Poland.
Upon the ICAC’s request, the Department of Justice made an application to Poland for the provisional arrest of Yeung pursuant to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
“A formal request for the surrender of Yeung is under preparation and will be made,” the ICAC said. “The UNCAC has been ratified by China and Poland and is also applicable to Hong Kong.”
The alleged offenses took place between September 2011 and February 2019, during which Yeung conducted 17 tendering and procurement exercises for HKUST and its subsidiary to purchase various laboratory equipment and testing services from Chun Fo (Asia) Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (CFPL) and PIT Ltd (PITL), in which Yeung had direct or indirect financial interests.
The conspiracy charges allege that Yeung had conspired with two others to defraud HKUST by concealing his interest in CFPL and PITL while he had a duty to disclose any conflict of interest to the university.
The remaining charges allege that Yeung along with two others induced HKUST or its subsidiary to engage CFPL or PITL in the other 14 tendering and procurement exercises by concealing his interest in the two suppliers.
The 17 tendering and procurement exercises involved payments totaling about HK$4 million.
As Yeung Lam-lung had already left Hong Kong in September 2022, an arrest warrant for Yeung was issued by a magistrate the next month upon an application made by the ICAC. In August 2023, Yeung was placed on the Interpol Red Notice for his apprehension.
The ICAC extended gratitude towards the DoJ, Polish authorities and HKUST for their assistance.
