Integrity Focus

A former bank employee and an intermediary, charged by the ICAC, today (April 29) admitted at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts that they had solicited and accepted bribes totalling $13,000 for expediting the process of opening personal bank accounts for six clients.

Law Tsz-hin, 30, former business sales executive of China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited (CCB (Asia)), pleaded guilty to four charges – one of agent soliciting an advantage; two of agent accepting an advantage and one 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.

Hu Yi, 39, sole director of Gangchen International Business Consulting (Shenzhen) Company Limited (Gangchen), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages.

Principal Magistrate Miss Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the case to May 21 for sentence, pending the background reports of the defendants. The duo were remanded in custody of the Correctional Services Department.

At the material time, Law was a business sales executive of the Central Branch of CCB (Asia). He was responsible for opening personal bank accounts and answering enquiries from clients. Gangchen was an intermediary company providing commercial secretarial and bank account opening services.

The court heard that between late April and mid-May 2023, Law solicited a bribe of $5,000 from a client and accepted bribes totalling $5,000 from two other clients for expediting the trio’s account opening process.

During the period, Law also solicited bribes totalling $3,000 from Hu for expediting the account opening process of three clients referred by the latter but he eventually accepted bribes totalling $2,000.

CCB (Asia) had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Gary Chan.

The ICAC has been actively promoting corruption prevention services to banks and enhancing banking practitioners’ knowledge on the anti-corruption laws. The newly launched “Corruption Prevention Guide for Banks” assists banks in managing corruption risks in core operations, including accounts opening. An Ethics Promotion Programme for the Banking Industry was also launched to help bank staff to understand common corruption loopholes. The ICAC reminds members of the public not to bribe bank staff in exchange for its services, otherwise it may constitute breaches of the POBO. They should report to the ICAC immediately should they come across any suspicion of corruption in the organisations. ICAC 24-hour Report Corruption Hotline: 25 266 366.