Integrity Focus

A then director of a semiconductor manufacturer and a sales representative of a supplier, charged by the ICAC, were today (December 11) each sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment after admitting at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts that they had offered and accepted bribes for facilitating the supplier to obtain a purchase order for items used in manufacturing semiconductors worth over RMB 500,000.

The defendants were Stephen Ho Chi-hoi, 55, former director of engineering department of Nexperia (China) Ltd (Nexperia); and James Gin Yiu-chung, 71, sales representative of Corbest Development Limited (Corbest) and its subsidiary Dong Guan Sun Honest Microelectronics Equipment Limited (Sun Honest).

The duo today pleaded guilty before Acting Principal Magistrate Ms Amy Chan Wai-mun to one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

At the material time, Ho was the person-in-charge of engineering department of Nexperia. He was responsible for supervising the department to assess technical capabilities of suppliers and recommending vendors to Nexperia. Gin was a sales representative of Corbest and Sun Honest, which were both suppliers of Nexperia.

The court heard that in around February 2017, Nexperia started to select a supplier for two items, namely mold chase and cavity bar, which were used to manufacture semiconductors. Nexperia invited Gin and two other suppliers to submit quotations and Sun Honest was eventually engaged by Nexperia.

Nexperia subsequently placed a purchase order with Sun Honest and settled payment of over RMB 500,000. After receiving commission of about RMB 36,000 from Corbest in relation to the purchase order, Gin offered a bribe of HK$16,000 to Ho rewarding him for facilitating the selection of Sun Honest as Nexperia’s supplier.

Nexperia did not allow its employees to solicit or accept advantages in relation to its business. The company has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Ray Leung.