Integrity Focus

Two sales representatives of the advertising department of a newspaper company, charged by the ICAC, admitted at the District Court today (January 9) their offering of bribes totalling about $88,000 to a supervisor after receiving commissions of a total of over $260,000 for securing event sponsorships.

Lee Kwok-wai, 50, former sales representatives of Hong Kong Commercial Daily (HKCD); and Ngo Kam-fai, 44, sales representatives of HKCD, respectively pleaded guilty to four counts and one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).

Lee further admitted one count of conspiracy for an agent to solicit an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the POBO and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Two other similar charges against him were left on file at the District Court.

Judge Mr Clement Lee Hing-nin adjourned the case to March 6 for mention, and granted the duo bail.

At the material time, Lee and Ngo were sales representatives of the advertising department of HKCD responsible for sourcing sponsors for various events organised by HKCD. Upon securing a sponsorship, they were entitled to 10 per cent of the sponsorship amount as commission. An assistant general manager of the advertising department would assist them in securing sponsorships. The assistant general manager would receive bonuses after each event or at the end of the year, subject to the profits made, but he was not entitled to share the commissions of the duo. Meanwhile, HKCD did not allow its staff to solicit or accept any advantage in relation to its business.

The court heard that between November 2019 and November 2021, Lee and Ngo were responsible for sourcing sponsorships for four events organised by HKCD. The duo eventually sourced sponsorships totalling over $2.6 million. Afterwards Lee and Ngo respectively received commissions of over $240,000 and $17,000.

The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the assistant general manager accompanied Lee and Ngo to meet various sponsors. The duo admitted that after securing the sponsorships, they respectively offered four bribes totalling about $83,000 and a bribe of $5,000 to the assistant general manager upon the latter’s request.

Lee further admitted that between September 2021 and February 2022, he conspired together with the assistant general manager to solicit a bribe of $5,000 from another sales representative who rejected the request. The sales representative was entitled to a commission of $17,800 for securing sponsorships totalling $178,000 in one of the events of HKCD.

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

The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Public Prosecutor Jason Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Rita Li.

Daniel Wu Hang-chi, 43, the assistant general manager concerned, was earlier charged by the ICAC with bribery. No plea was entered and his case was adjourned to February 29 for mention.