Mystery Wynn Macau Director in $2.8M Bribery Case, Accused Pleads Guilty

Posted on: September 13, 2023, 04:19h. 

Last updated on: September 13, 2023, 09:07h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More

Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.

A Hong Kong-based air-conditioning salesman has pleaded guilty to bribing an unnamed director at the Wynn Macau in return for lucrative contracts at the casino.

Li Kin-wang, 59, is a senior sales manager at Oh Luen, providing large companies with air-conditioning and maintenance. He admitted Monday to greasing the unnamed Wynn director’s palms with three bribes worth over HKD450K (US$57K), according to Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Wynn Resorts Macau awarded around 70 air-conditioning maintenance contracts to Oh Luen worth HKD22 million (US$2.8 million), according to ICAC.

The agency noted that during the relevant period, 2014 to 2017, both Wynn Resorts Macau and the two air-conditioning companies experienced revenue growth. However, Wynn’s growth was probably not related to air-conditioning.

Cash for Contracts

Li was one of two individuals charged by ICAC in May 2022 with offering advantage to an agent without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, violating Hong Kong’s Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).

The other was Woo Tak-hoi, 55, a director of Wai Luen, an associate company of Oh Luen. Woo has pleaded not guilty to two counts of bribery conspiracy. His trial begins this week in Hong Kong’s Eastern District Court.

Both men face up to seven years in prison if found guilty and a fine of up to HK$500,000 (US$64,000). Li was originally charged with offering seven bribes to the director totaling more than HK$930,000 (US$118,470).

It’s unclear if the mysterious Wynn director is also facing charges. According to the ICAC, he worked for Wynn Resorts Macau from 2007 and had “responsibility for the procurement and award of repair and maintenance services.” Li testified the director began soliciting bribes from him in 2014.

Whistleblower Alert

The U.S. operator owns two casinos in the gambling hub. Wynn Macau launched in September 2006, while Wynn Palace opened on the Cotai Strip in August 2016.

ICAC was alerted to possible bribery by an anonymous whistleblower in 2019. The agency was assisted by Macau’s Commission Against Corruption. Wynn Macau cooperated fully with the investigation, according to ICAC.

Judge Frankie Yiu Fun-che adjourned the case to September 18 and granted Li bail.