Integrity Focus
Recent ICAC Cases
Aug 2023Ex-clerk charged by ICAC jailed for accepting $400,000 bribes from money exchange duo over $120m remittance
A then clerk of a handbag manufacturer, charged by the ICAC, was today (August 4) sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes totalling over $400,000 from two employees of a currency exchange company for causing the manufacturer to remit $120 million via the currency exchange company.
Kung Hoi, 55, former clerk of Creaton Enterprises Limited (Creaton), earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Miss Veronica Heung Shuk-han said she took a starting point of 12 months’ imprisonment and reduced the jail term of the defendant by one-third in view of his guilty plea. She also ordered the defendant to repay over $400,000, equivalent to the amount of bribes involved, as restitution to Creaton.
The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was a clerk of Creaton, a handbag manufacturer. Among his duties was remitting funds to mainland bank accounts via currency exchange companies for Creaton’s business operation. Between May 2016 and August 2018, the defendant had conducted over 430 remittances involving a total of $120 million on behalf of Creaton through a branch of Hui’s Brothers Foreign Currency Exchange Company Limited (Hui’s Brothers).
ICAC investigations revealed that remittances concerned were processed by a branch manager and a cashier of the above branch of Hui’s Brothers. The duo would arrange cash deposits, ranging from over $200 to over $20,000 each and totalling over $400,000, be made into the defendant’s bank account after handling a remittance for Creaton. The matter was revealed when Hui’s Brothers checked the books.
Creaton did not allow its employees to accept advantages in relation to its business or affairs.
Creaton and Hui’s Brothers had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. As the relevant corruption investigation is continuing, the ICAC does not rule out further law enforcement actions.
The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Johnny Yiu.