San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection has been rocked by allegations of corruption as former inspector Van Zeng faces charges for violations of conflict of interest laws. Zeng, who pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, is accused of abusing his position to benefit financially, per an announcement by San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.
In what has become an all-too-familiar tale of civic malfeasance, Zeng has landed himself three misdemeanor counts for his alleged misdeeds. According to the District Attorney's office, he's said to have inspected his own house and signed off on two other projects connected to his father's construction business. This marks a clear conflict of interest, a contravention of section 3.206(a) of San Francisco's ethical conduct code.
"San Franciscans should expect our public employees to act with integrity and not engage in self-serving behavior," DA Brooke Jenkins stated in the announcement. Should Zeng's actions be proven, they represent an egregious breach of trust between a city employee and the public they are meant to serve.
The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office’s Public Integrity Task Force is handling the case's prosecution, leaving Zeng facing a potential year behind bars if convicted. His next appearance before the court is slated for February 23 for a pretrial conference.
While the former DBI inspector maintains his innocence, the city's District Attorney is bent on holding those found circumventing the law accountable. The investigation, as outlined by the DA's office, remains active and ongoing. People with knowledge about this or similar infractions are encouraged to contact the Public Integrity Tip Line.
