Contractor sentenced in San Francisco corruption scandal | Bay Space

Florence Kong

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A millionaire who admitted bribing the city’s public works director with gifts that included a $ 36,550 Rolex watch in gold turned a year and day on Thursday Federal prison sentenced.

Florence Kong was also convicted of paying a $ 95,000 fine for bribing an officer and making false statements to the FBI.

Kong, 63, is one of nearly a dozen people charged with an extensive corruption investigation at City Hall. Several city department heads had to resign.

Kong admitted bribing Mohammed Nuru, the former director of the city’s public works department, who resigned after being charged with fraud and lied to the FBI. Prosecutors claim he took thousands of dollars in gifts and cash from contractors. They also claimed he teamed up with a restaurateur in 2018 to bribe an airport inspector for top-notch restaurants at San Francisco International Airport.

“Both corrupt officials and those who corrupt them are responsible for their crimes. Our town hall prosecution is ongoing. The investigation continues,” said David L. Anderson, US attorney for the Northern District of California.

In a informed consent form last year, Kong admitted that she bribed Nuru in exchange for running the business of her company SFR Recovery, Inc., which had contracts with the city and county to dispose of rubble.

Prosecutors said that in addition to the clock, Kong Nuru provided expensive meals, an envelope with cash for his daughter at her graduation ceremony, and work on his vacation home.

“Kong admitted that she believed Nuru was one of the most powerful officials in San Francisco,” and “had a tremendous influence” on government contracts and permits, the US law firm said.

She also admitted lying to FBI agents about her connections with Nuru.

Kong is one of at least 10 people charged with corruption at City Hall. These include contractors and former head of the Public Utilities Commission, Harlan Kelly.

Kelly has denied wrongdoing but resigned from his position last year.