Yeung Lam-lung, the 58-year-old former adjunct associate professor, has conducted 17 tendering and procurement exercises for HKUST and its subsidiary from September 2011 to February 2019 to purchase various laboratory equipment and testing services from two suppliers, in which he had direct or indirect financial interests.

Under the university's regulations, Yeung was required to declare his conflict of interest with any suppliers before engaging them. Likewise, suppliers were required to declare whether any university staff have any interest in them.

Yeung was charged with conspiracy to defraud and fraud, inducing the university to engage the suppliers over concealing his interest involved.

The two suppliers are Chun Fo (Asia) Pharmaceutical Co., Limited and PIT Limited, of which the directors and shareholders Yeung Siu-fung, 42, and Yeung Siu-on, 40, were also charged with the same offences.

The 17 tendering and procurement exercises involved payments totalling about HK$4 million.

As Yeung Lam-lung had already left Hong Kong, a warrant for his arrest was issued by a Magistrate last Friday (October 7) upon the application made by the ICAC.

The other two will be on trial on October 27 for mention.