The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has indicated it has revised its procedures for awarding public contracts following the case that saw a former veterinary division head handed a four-year prison sentence.
This week the former head of the IAM’s Division of Inspection and Veterinary Control, Choi U Fai, was sentenced by the Court of First Instance (TJB) to four years in prison for misuse of power and misrepresentation of income.
In March 2019 the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) revealed that the former IAM division head was suspected of malfeasance in office since 2012, including during the relocation process of the shuttered canidrome greyhounds.
The CCAC investigation revealed that the division head of the IAM division responsible for veterinary inspection was a shareholder of the veterinary centre who was granted a contract for medical care and neutering of the more than 500 dogs by the government department last year.
According to a statement from IAM, the city office has reviewed last year’s procurement procedures and looked to improve its mechanism and guidelines, with Choi also suspended from his functions at the IAM.
‘In order to strengthen procedures and oversight, inspections have already been increased through the electronic system and the system for recording data archives of existing suppliers has been improved, for example, by implementing an ‘automatic draw mechanism for suppliers’, with the suppliers list now being automatically defined by a computer,’ the IAM noted.
The department also stated to have strengthened staff training by providing instructions and information on impediment procedures to be observed during the procurement process, while requires all workers to adhere strictly to procurement guidelines.
Choi was one of four defendants involved in the trial, with three being handed prison sentences from two to four years, and one a MOP216,000 (US$26,985) fine.
