Integrity Focus

In response to media enquiries, an ICAC spokesperson confirmed the arrest of 14 people, including a member of senior management and two employees in managerial grade of a listed company engaged in providing cleaning services, on suspicion of accepting advantages from subcontractors for awarding various contracts for services provided to the commercial sector and the supply of vehicles and the related maintenance services to the listed company. It did not involve any contract signed with the government.

The arrestees are six men and eight women, aged between 24 and 57, including the abovementioned listed company trio, and the proprietors and employees of three subcontractors. They are suspected of breaching the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and offences of conspiracy to defraud and dealing with property believed to represent crime proceeds (commonly known as money laundering).

During the operation, ICAC officers conducted searches at multiple locations, including the offices of the listed company and the subcontractors, as well as the residences of the arrested individuals, seizing various exhibits, including approximately $1 million in cash and a large number of watches. The watches seized, with an estimated value amounting to over $10 million, are suspected of being used to launder the bribes and crime proceeds concerned.

The ICAC investigation also found that one of the listed company trio had allegedly purchased three residential properties through a family member, in which about $8 million was funded by one of the subcontractor proprietors.

As the investigations are ongoing, no further comments will be made.

The listed company concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its operation.