Florence Kong, a Bay Area construction executive, has agreed to a staggering $750,000 settlement with the city of San Francisco over her role in a bribery scandal involving former Public Works chief Mohammed Nuru. As reported by The SF Standard, Kong admitted to giving Nuru a $37,000 gold Rolex watch in exchange for securing city contracts and lying to the FBI.
Kong, who previously served a year in federal prison after her guilty plea and paid a $95,000 fine, is now facing the consequences on a municipal level. This new settlement demands the repayment of $640,500 gained through these ill-gotten contracts, along with $109,500 in fines for ethics violations, as per details obtained by SFist.
City Attorney David Chiu emphasized the significance of the settlement, stating, "This settlement sends a strong message that those who undermine our contracting processes will have to pay for those actions." Supervisor Aaron Peskin echoed this sentiment and warned, "If you cheat the city, we’re going to come after you and make it right for the taxpayers," as he told The SF Standard.
The hefty penalty also bars Kong's companies, SFR Recovery, Kin Wo Construction Inc., and the third that hasn't been specified, from bidding on or receiving city contracts until March 1, 2026. In a note on the broader impact of the corruption scandal, approximately a dozen city employees have been fired or resigned, and multiple others charged, including a Chinese billionaire and executives from the city's garbage monopoly, according to SFist coverage.
While Kong's companies grapple with the repercussions, Kwan Wo Ironworks, another previously led by Kong, has cut all ties with her. The City Attorney’s Office confirmed that it will continue serving out its suspension, which lasts until this March but will not face additional debarment. As for Nuru, he is currently serving a seven-year sentence for his hand in the corruption cases that have rocked San Francisco's city government over the past few years.
