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Ethical Decision MakingRecent ICAC Cases
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May 2026Seven arrested by ICAC for alleged bribery for conniving at concealment of contractor’s dual role as consultant in grand maintenance projectsLast week (April 27 and 28), the ICAC conducted an enforcement action against a corruption syndicate specifically targeting grand maintenance projects of single-block buildings, arresting five men and two women, aged between 37 and 75, including the chairman of an Incorporated Owners (IO), the proprietor of a project contractor, and directors of a project consultancy firm and a registered inspector employed by the firm.The ICAC received a public complaint alleging possible corruption in the tender exercise for the grand maintenance project of a single-block composite building in Mong Kok. Investigations revealed that the arrested project contractor’s proprietor allegedly controlled the project consultancy firm through his associates, secured the consultancy contract for the grand maintenance project at a low price, and concealed his dual roles as project contractor and consultant, along with his conflicting interests during the tendering process, with intent to induce the IO to select his company as the project contractor.ICAC enquiries found that the project consultancy firm concerned did not declare its conflicting interests with the project contractor as required by the IO, while the IO chairman was suspected of bribery for conniving at the concealment. As property owners surmised irregularities in the tender exercise, the project contractor eventually failed to secure the $20 million works contract.It was also revealed in the ICAC investigation that the arrested registered inspector, who maintained a full-time job in the finance industry, might not have discharged her inspection duties in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance when signing Building Inspection Reports. The ICAC has referred the relevant inspection information in parallel to the Buildings Department for follow-up action.ICAC officers conducted searches at multiple locations, including the offices of the project consultancy firm and the project contractor, as well as residences of the arrestees, seizing relevant documents related to the grand maintenance projects and accounting records.It was revealed in the ICAC operation that the project consultancy firm and project contractor also concealed their relationship and conflicting interests in two other grand maintenance projects currently undergoing tender exercises – one in Tai Hang and another in Sham Shui Po – to secure contracts with a total contract sum of about $6 million. The ICAC successfully intercepted these illicit activities and reminded property owners of potential corruption risks during contract awards.As the relevant corruption investigation is ongoing, the ICAC does not rule out further enforcement actions.The ICAC urges members of the public and practitioners in the building management and maintenance industry to report suspected corruption to the ICAC immediately through its 24-hour hotline at 25 266 366. 04
May 2026Former employee of property management company charged by ICAC admits accepting $1.3m in bribes from contractorA former employee of a property management company, charged by the ICAC, today (May 4) admitted at the District Court that he had accepted bribes totalling $1.3 million from a renovation works contractor for showing favour to the latter regarding property renovation works.Mak Wing-chun, 51, then senior property officer of the leasing department of New Estate Company Limited (New Estate), pleaded guilty to four counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Judge Mr Clement Lee Hing-nin remanded the defendant in custody of the Correctional Services Department.The court heard that New Estate owned and managed a portfolio of properties in Hong Kong for lease. At the material time, Mak was responsible for arranging and overseeing contractors to conduct renovation works at New Estate’s properties and certifying the completion of such works before releasing payments to contractors.New Estate had no internal procurement procedures in place between November 2020 and June 2022, and inviting quotations or conducting tenders were not required when selecting contractors. During this period, New Estate awarded its renovation works to only two contractors. Over the course of one and a half years, one of these contractors was awarded most of the renovation projects and received works payments totalling about $26 million.In mid-June 2022, New Estate’s management began requiring its leasing department to invite companies other than the two existing contractors to bid for renovation works when awarding contracts. Mak subsequently informed the contractor, which had been awarded numerous renovation projects, of the new procurement requirements and alerted the contractor that New Estate might have discovered that the cost of its works was far above the prices submitted by new bidders.The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that on various occasions, Mak had accepted bribes totalling $1.3 million from the contractor for showing favour to the latter regarding arrangements and supervision of renovation works. Mak used some of the bribes to settle payments for his newly-purchased residential flat.Co-defendant Lee Shing-kan, 77, sole proprietor of Art Land Decoration Co., earlier pleaded not guilty to four counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(b) of the POBO. His trial commenced at the District Court today.New Estate rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Chung, assisted by ICAC officer Eva Chan. 30
Apr 2026Shuttle bus company operations assistant charged by ICAC admits accepting $30,000 bribes over driver employmentA then operations assistant of a shuttle bus company, charged by the ICAC, today (April 30) pleaded guilty at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts to accepting bribes totalling over $32,000 in relation to the employment of a driver.Chow King-lung, 45, then operations assistant of a subsidiary of Great Leader Bus Holdings Limited (Great Leader Bus), pleaded guilty to five counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). The prosecution offered no evidence to another bribery charge against him.Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong adjourned the case to May 18 for sentencing, pending the defendant’s background report, and remanded him in custody of the Correctional Services Department. The court also ordered the defendant to make restitution of about $32,000, equivalent to the bribe amount involved, to his former employer, a subsidiary of Great Leader Bus.At the material time, the defendant was responsible for employing drivers and managing transportation service operations for Great Leader Bus and its subsidiaries, including a shuttle bus route providing services to government staff. Great Leader Bus did not allow its staff to accept any advantages from drivers for their employment with Great Leader Bus and its subsidiaries.The court heard that in the five consecutive months between September 2024 and January 2025, the defendant accepted bribes totalling over $32,000 from a driver for employing her on the abovementioned route.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant had solicited monthly bribes ranging from about $3,400 to $7,500 from the driver. The driver would not have been employed on the route had she not paid these bribes.Great Leader Bus rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Cody Chung. 24
Apr 2026Company director guilty of using false passport to open bank accounts as revealed in ICAC graft probeA company director, charged by the ICAC, was convicted today (April 24) at the District Court of offences including obtaining services by deception, following a corruption investigation that revealed the defendant had used a false passport to open bank accounts.Fang Siyuan, 38, was found guilty of two counts of obtaining services by deception after trial, contrary to section 18A(1) of the Theft Ordinance; and two counts of possession of a false or forged travel document, contrary to section 42(2)(c)(i) of the Immigration Ordinance.Deputy Judge Mr Ko Wai-hung adjourned the case to May 15 for sentencing, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.The court heard that the defendant met with staff from two banks in November 2020 and September 2021 respectively to apply for opening personal bank accounts. He falsely represented himself as Fong Tim, and presented a Mexican passport to the bank staff, signing the account application documents to confirm that the information provided was true and correct. Consequently, the defendant dishonestly obtained services from both banks and successfully opened eight accounts.The defendant was also convicted of possessing two false or forged travel documents: the abovementioned Mexican passport and a Canadian passport. The name and date of birth recorded on these false passports did not match the information shown on his other identity documents.The two banks concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Marray, assisted by ICAC officer Eva Chan. 24
Apr 2026Account supervisor of party products supplier charged by ICAC sentenced to six and a half years’ jail at High Court for stealing $16mAn ICAC corruption investigation earlier revealed that a then account supervisor of a party products supplier had misappropriated company funds totalling approximately $16 million by forging signatures on over 400 cheques. The defendant was sentenced to an imprisonment of six and a half years following his guilty plea to theft at the Court of First Instance of the High Court.Tam Chun-fung, 48, then account and administration supervisor of DSL Holding Limited (DSL), pleaded guilty today (April 24) to five counts of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance. Two other similar charges against him were left on file at the High Court.In sentencing, Deputy High Court Judge Tony Li remarked that the defendant was the company’s sole accounting staff member. Despite being deeply trusted by his employer, the defendant breached this trust by planning and committing offences over an extended period, using sophisticated methods to misappropriate company funds and squander the stolen money. The judge took a starting point of 10 years and three months’ imprisonment for the offences. Considering the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors, the jail term was reduced to six and a half years.At the material time, the defendant was the sole employee of the accounting department of DSL, a party products supplier. He was responsible for preparing and safekeeping all company accounting records and cheques, though he was not an authorised signatory of the company’s bank account.The defendant admitted that between August 2017 and February 2024, a period of six and a half years, he successively forged signatures on more than 400 cheques to misappropriate approximately $16 million from DSL’s bank account, and transferred the sum into his personal bank accounts.The ICAC investigation found that the defendant used the monies for gambling and to support his girlfriends. He concealed the theft by falsely representing to DSL that the funds were expenses for purchasing materials and settling payments with suppliers, and by fabricating DSL’s accounting records.DSL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Steven Liu, assisted by ICAC officer Vincent Ching.Note: An imprisonment of six years and five months was pronounced by the Court of First Instance of the High Court on April 24, 2026. At the hearing on April 28, 2026, the jail sentence was amended to six and a half years.
May 2026Seven arrested by ICAC for alleged bribery for conniving at concealment of contractor’s dual role as consultant in grand maintenance projectsLast week (April 27 and 28), the ICAC conducted an enforcement action against a corruption syndicate specifically targeting grand maintenance projects of single-block buildings, arresting five men and two women, aged between 37 and 75, including the chairman of an Incorporated Owners (IO), the proprietor of a project contractor, and directors of a project consultancy firm and a registered inspector employed by the firm.The ICAC received a public complaint alleging possible corruption in the tender exercise for the grand maintenance project of a single-block composite building in Mong Kok. Investigations revealed that the arrested project contractor’s proprietor allegedly controlled the project consultancy firm through his associates, secured the consultancy contract for the grand maintenance project at a low price, and concealed his dual roles as project contractor and consultant, along with his conflicting interests during the tendering process, with intent to induce the IO to select his company as the project contractor.ICAC enquiries found that the project consultancy firm concerned did not declare its conflicting interests with the project contractor as required by the IO, while the IO chairman was suspected of bribery for conniving at the concealment. As property owners surmised irregularities in the tender exercise, the project contractor eventually failed to secure the $20 million works contract.It was also revealed in the ICAC investigation that the arrested registered inspector, who maintained a full-time job in the finance industry, might not have discharged her inspection duties in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance when signing Building Inspection Reports. The ICAC has referred the relevant inspection information in parallel to the Buildings Department for follow-up action.ICAC officers conducted searches at multiple locations, including the offices of the project consultancy firm and the project contractor, as well as residences of the arrestees, seizing relevant documents related to the grand maintenance projects and accounting records.It was revealed in the ICAC operation that the project consultancy firm and project contractor also concealed their relationship and conflicting interests in two other grand maintenance projects currently undergoing tender exercises – one in Tai Hang and another in Sham Shui Po – to secure contracts with a total contract sum of about $6 million. The ICAC successfully intercepted these illicit activities and reminded property owners of potential corruption risks during contract awards.As the relevant corruption investigation is ongoing, the ICAC does not rule out further enforcement actions.The ICAC urges members of the public and practitioners in the building management and maintenance industry to report suspected corruption to the ICAC immediately through its 24-hour hotline at 25 266 366. 04
May 2026Former employee of property management company charged by ICAC admits accepting $1.3m in bribes from contractorA former employee of a property management company, charged by the ICAC, today (May 4) admitted at the District Court that he had accepted bribes totalling $1.3 million from a renovation works contractor for showing favour to the latter regarding property renovation works.Mak Wing-chun, 51, then senior property officer of the leasing department of New Estate Company Limited (New Estate), pleaded guilty to four counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). Judge Mr Clement Lee Hing-nin remanded the defendant in custody of the Correctional Services Department.The court heard that New Estate owned and managed a portfolio of properties in Hong Kong for lease. At the material time, Mak was responsible for arranging and overseeing contractors to conduct renovation works at New Estate’s properties and certifying the completion of such works before releasing payments to contractors.New Estate had no internal procurement procedures in place between November 2020 and June 2022, and inviting quotations or conducting tenders were not required when selecting contractors. During this period, New Estate awarded its renovation works to only two contractors. Over the course of one and a half years, one of these contractors was awarded most of the renovation projects and received works payments totalling about $26 million.In mid-June 2022, New Estate’s management began requiring its leasing department to invite companies other than the two existing contractors to bid for renovation works when awarding contracts. Mak subsequently informed the contractor, which had been awarded numerous renovation projects, of the new procurement requirements and alerted the contractor that New Estate might have discovered that the cost of its works was far above the prices submitted by new bidders.The ICAC investigation stemmed from a corruption complaint. It was revealed that on various occasions, Mak had accepted bribes totalling $1.3 million from the contractor for showing favour to the latter regarding arrangements and supervision of renovation works. Mak used some of the bribes to settle payments for his newly-purchased residential flat.Co-defendant Lee Shing-kan, 77, sole proprietor of Art Land Decoration Co., earlier pleaded not guilty to four counts of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(b) of the POBO. His trial commenced at the District Court today.New Estate rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Bernard Chung, assisted by ICAC officer Eva Chan. 30
Apr 2026Shuttle bus company operations assistant charged by ICAC admits accepting $30,000 bribes over driver employmentA then operations assistant of a shuttle bus company, charged by the ICAC, today (April 30) pleaded guilty at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts to accepting bribes totalling over $32,000 in relation to the employment of a driver.Chow King-lung, 45, then operations assistant of a subsidiary of Great Leader Bus Holdings Limited (Great Leader Bus), pleaded guilty to five counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). The prosecution offered no evidence to another bribery charge against him.Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong adjourned the case to May 18 for sentencing, pending the defendant’s background report, and remanded him in custody of the Correctional Services Department. The court also ordered the defendant to make restitution of about $32,000, equivalent to the bribe amount involved, to his former employer, a subsidiary of Great Leader Bus.At the material time, the defendant was responsible for employing drivers and managing transportation service operations for Great Leader Bus and its subsidiaries, including a shuttle bus route providing services to government staff. Great Leader Bus did not allow its staff to accept any advantages from drivers for their employment with Great Leader Bus and its subsidiaries.The court heard that in the five consecutive months between September 2024 and January 2025, the defendant accepted bribes totalling over $32,000 from a driver for employing her on the abovementioned route.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant had solicited monthly bribes ranging from about $3,400 to $7,500 from the driver. The driver would not have been employed on the route had she not paid these bribes.Great Leader Bus rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Cody Chung. 24
Apr 2026Company director guilty of using false passport to open bank accounts as revealed in ICAC graft probeA company director, charged by the ICAC, was convicted today (April 24) at the District Court of offences including obtaining services by deception, following a corruption investigation that revealed the defendant had used a false passport to open bank accounts.Fang Siyuan, 38, was found guilty of two counts of obtaining services by deception after trial, contrary to section 18A(1) of the Theft Ordinance; and two counts of possession of a false or forged travel document, contrary to section 42(2)(c)(i) of the Immigration Ordinance.Deputy Judge Mr Ko Wai-hung adjourned the case to May 15 for sentencing, and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.The court heard that the defendant met with staff from two banks in November 2020 and September 2021 respectively to apply for opening personal bank accounts. He falsely represented himself as Fong Tim, and presented a Mexican passport to the bank staff, signing the account application documents to confirm that the information provided was true and correct. Consequently, the defendant dishonestly obtained services from both banks and successfully opened eight accounts.The defendant was also convicted of possessing two false or forged travel documents: the abovementioned Mexican passport and a Canadian passport. The name and date of birth recorded on these false passports did not match the information shown on his other identity documents.The two banks concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel John Marray, assisted by ICAC officer Eva Chan. 24
Apr 2026Account supervisor of party products supplier charged by ICAC sentenced to six and a half years’ jail at High Court for stealing $16mAn ICAC corruption investigation earlier revealed that a then account supervisor of a party products supplier had misappropriated company funds totalling approximately $16 million by forging signatures on over 400 cheques. The defendant was sentenced to an imprisonment of six and a half years following his guilty plea to theft at the Court of First Instance of the High Court.Tam Chun-fung, 48, then account and administration supervisor of DSL Holding Limited (DSL), pleaded guilty today (April 24) to five counts of theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance. Two other similar charges against him were left on file at the High Court.In sentencing, Deputy High Court Judge Tony Li remarked that the defendant was the company’s sole accounting staff member. Despite being deeply trusted by his employer, the defendant breached this trust by planning and committing offences over an extended period, using sophisticated methods to misappropriate company funds and squander the stolen money. The judge took a starting point of 10 years and three months’ imprisonment for the offences. Considering the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors, the jail term was reduced to six and a half years.At the material time, the defendant was the sole employee of the accounting department of DSL, a party products supplier. He was responsible for preparing and safekeeping all company accounting records and cheques, though he was not an authorised signatory of the company’s bank account.The defendant admitted that between August 2017 and February 2024, a period of six and a half years, he successively forged signatures on more than 400 cheques to misappropriate approximately $16 million from DSL’s bank account, and transferred the sum into his personal bank accounts.The ICAC investigation found that the defendant used the monies for gambling and to support his girlfriends. He concealed the theft by falsely representing to DSL that the funds were expenses for purchasing materials and settling payments with suppliers, and by fabricating DSL’s accounting records.DSL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Steven Liu, assisted by ICAC officer Vincent Ching.Note: An imprisonment of six years and five months was pronounced by the Court of First Instance of the High Court on April 24, 2026. At the hearing on April 28, 2026, the jail sentence was amended to six and a half years.