A former assistant manager of the Urban Renewal Authority has been jailed 32 months for bribery and conspiracy to defraud over compensation for five redevelopment projects.

Sinon Chan, 41, today admitted to one count of conspiracy to accept an advantage, and four of conspiracy to defraud. He was also ordered to pay the authority $100,000 in restitution.

The court heard Chan agreed to provide confidential information on upcoming redevelopment projects to a company director who could plant "occupants" in the projects to deceive compensation from the authority.

In July 2002, Chan notified the company director about a redevelopment project in Larch Street, and accepted $100,000. Chan conspired with the company director to defraud the authority on four other projects on Po On Road, Reclamation Street, First Street, and Lee Tung Street. Chan disclosed the projects' schedule of occupancy surveys.

The company director arranged for a number of people, purported to be tenants, to apply to the authority for cash compensation for surrendering the premises. As a result, the authority granted cash compensation totalling over $2 million. Chan received $269,500 as rewards.

The offences occurred between June 2002 and last April.