Integrity Focus

A man charged by the ICAC was today (July 31) convicted at the Fanling Magistrates’ Court of offering a bribe of $1,000 to a relationship manager of a bank for assisting him in redeeming his unit trust fund.

Chung Sung, 60, was today found guilty of one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

Magistrate Ms Kelly Shui adjourned the case to August 21 for sentence, pending the defendant’s probation report. The defendant was granted bail.

The court heard that on January 22, 2021, the defendant visited a branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in Sheung Shui for redeeming his unit trust fund held with the bank. He was received by a relationship manager of the branch.

The relationship manager asked the defendant to produce his Hong Kong Identity Card or passport for verification in accordance with the guideline of the bank. The defendant then offered $1,000 to the relationship manager for assisting him in redeeming his unit trust fund as he did not bring along the documents. The relationship manager declined the offer and reported the matter to HSBC.

HSBC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Kenny Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Samantha Laura Nichols.