Two former architectural consultancy executives have been jailed 10 months by the District Court for soliciting and accepting bribes over a yoga centre renovation project.

Li Kin-kwok, 50, and Wong Yiu-keung, 43, were the former managing director and former director of DTZ Debenham Tie Leung Project Services. They were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to solicit an advantage and one of an agent accepting an advantage.

In April 2006 Grandway Construction & Design was subcontracted to conduct renovation work for a yoga centre for $8.4 million. DTZ was employed by a fitness company as the consultant responsible for monitoring the progress of the works and certifying payments to Grandway.

Between April and September 2006 both men conspired with a design manager of DTZ to solicit from Grandway director Pun Shun-hung and another site supervisor of Grandway a commission equivalent to $140,000 or 2% of the contract sum payable to Grandway for the renovation works. The commission was reward for Li and Wong for showing or having shown favour to Grandway in supervising the works.

The design manager of DTZ, however, told the Grandway site supervisor to offer Li and Wong a reward of $90,000 only as he himself did not want his share of the commission.

In August 2006 Li and Wong accepted $40,000 and $50,000 from Pun through the DTZ design manager. DTZ prohibits its employees from soliciting or accepting advantages in relation to the company's business.

Pun, 58, was earlier charged with one count of conspiracy to offer an advantage to an agent. He had pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service.