Commission Against Corruption, Macao SAR

After one month of investigations into the bribery allegations against the ex-Secretary for Transport and Public Works Ao Man Long, yesterday (January 19) the CCAC apprehended several property developers who were suspected of gaining advantages in construction projects with the aid of Ao and returning ¡§favours¡¨ by transferring company shares, plots of land, residential and commercial premises over the past few years.  Aside from the property developer surnamed Lam who had fled Macao shortly after Ao¡¦s case was disclosed, the other 5 suspects were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office on charges of bribery, illicit financial participation in public affairs and fraud today (January 20).

On investigation of Ao Man Long¡¦s corruption case, the CCAC revealed that a number of businessmen in Macao such as property developers surnamed Lam, Wu and Tang were suspected of offering huge benefits to Ao in land swap deals and construction of high-rise commercial and residential premises between 2003 and 2006.

From 2004 to 2006, a property developer surnamed Lam, who owned several construction companies, had allegedly exchanged two plots of land on the Macau Peninsula for a site of several thousand square feet owed by the government on the Penha Hill.  Prior to the completion of the transfer procedures, Lam had already finished the construction drawings of a mansion of nearly 10,000 square feet and sent the application to the department supervised by Ao Man Long, who was suspected of abusing his power by instructing the department to facilitate the application.  According to the records, Ao Man Long signed for approval and announced the matters in November and December 2006.  Investigations revealed that prior to the land swap deal, Lam signed a written agreement in 2005 to transfer the land for mansion development to an overseas company set up and controlled by Ao Man Long. The transfer was allegedly meant to thank Ao¡¦s facilitating the approval of Lam¡¦s other construction projects.

The property developer Lam was also suspected of exchanging certain stories of a building under construction for a site owed by the government between 2004 and 2006.  In early 2005, Lam promised in writing to transfer several retail units to Ao¡¦s overseas company upon completion of the construction.

Lam and another property developer surnamed Wu were suspected of organizing a luxury residential building project with the aid of Ao Man Long.  In early 2005, Lam and Wu made a written agreement under of the name of their companies to transfer a top-floor duplex apartment and a number of parking spaces to Ao¡¦s overseas company.

Another case of abuse of power occurred between 2005 and 2006.  A hydraulic engineering company was responsible for the urban residual water treatment in Macao.  In 2005, the hydraulic engineering company was once again granted by the government a contract worth more than 100 million patacas.  However, in early 2005, prior to the granting of the contract, a property developer surnamed Tang allegedly bought shares of the hydraulic engineering company under the name of his company and later on transferred 50% of his shares to Ao¡¦s overseas company so that Ao became a shareholder and indirectly participated in the business of urban residual water treatment.

Tang was also suspected of granting a 10% stake in a government contract for the management of the Barrier Gate Square to Ao¡¦s overseas company in early 2005 through a written agreement.  Besides, the CCAC also suspected Tang of having transferred more than 40 million HK dollars to the bank accounts of Ao¡¦s overseas company in the past two years in return for the granting of several public work projects.

A property developer surnamed Leong, who owned several plots of land in Hac Sa in Coloane for the construction of 6 mansions, was suspected of offering huge benefits to obtain assistance in the project.  In early 2005, Leong signed a written agreement to offer one of the 6 mansions to Ao¡¦s overseas company upon completion of the registration procedures.

A property developer surnamed Lo, who was planning a development project in Taipa, allegedly promised in writing in early 2005 to transfer some commercial units of the project to Ao¡¦s overseas company in order to obtain assistance in the project.

Aside from inviting a number of people to assist in investigations, yesterday (January 19) the CCAC also searched over 10 locations and seized a lot of items for investigation.  Five suspects were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office today (January 20).  The property developer Lam, who was believed to be a key person in the case, was suspected of having fled Macau to a Southeast Asian country through mainland China shortly after the corruption case of Ao Man Long was disclosed last month. His wife surnamed Leung also left Macau suddenly soon afterwards. The CCAC keeps following up on this through international cooperation.