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Ethical Decision MakingRecent ICAC Cases
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Jun 2026Father of then listed company deputy general manager charged by ICAC for role in AUD$25m bribery in overseas property project investmentsThe ICAC earlier charged a then deputy general manager of a listed company and his mother with bribery for showing favour to an Australian businessman regarding the listed company's investments in overseas property development projects. Following further investigation by the Commission and legal advice from the Department of Justice, the father of the then deputy general manager was charged for his role in the corruption scheme involving bribes amounting to about AUD$25 million.Ng Cho-wong, 77, was charged last Thursday (May 28) with two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts for mention on Wednesday (June 3).Ng Wai, 46, Ng Cho-wong's son and then deputy general manager of Beijing Capital Land Limited (BCL, delisted); and Han Shang-min, 75, Ng Cho-wong's wife, were earlier jointly charged by the ICAC with one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage. Their case was scheduled for mention on Wednesday at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts.BCL was listed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited from June 2003 to September 2021. At the material time, Ng Cho-wong’s son, Ng Wai, served as the deputy general manager of BCL, and also as the general manager of BCL's branch in Australia.The two charges against Ng Cho-wong allege that he conspired with Ng Wai and Han Shang-min between June 2014 and November 2021 to accept bribes totalling AUD$22 million and an investment opportunity contract, making a profit of about AUD$3 million, from an Australian businessman for Ng Wai to show favour to the Australian businessman and his associated companies in relation to BCL's business.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that following Ng Wai's recommendations, BCL invested in various property development projects in Australia worth approximately AUD$820 million in total since 2014. Most of these projects were developed by companies associated with the Australian businessman. 26
May 2026Ex-general manager of pharmaceutical wholesaler and two others charged by ICAC for $1.1m service fees fraud jailed for up to 26 monthsAn ICAC corruption investigation revealed that a then general manager of a pharmaceutical wholesaler made false representations regarding consultancy services provided by a secretarial services company operated by his subordinate to defraud the pharmaceutical wholesaler of service fees totalling about $1.1 million, while a business partner of the subordinate had assisted in money-laundering. The trio were today (May 26) sentenced at the District Court to jail terms ranging from 10 to 26 months.Watson Yau Wei-ching, 56, then general manager of Kingworld Medicine Healthcare Limited (Kingworld Medicine), was jailed for 26 months; his then subordinate Alen Yu Yuen-to, 44, then marketing officer of Kingworld Medicine and director cum shareholder of Asia Great Services Limited (Asia Great), received a jail term of 20 months. The duo earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.Co-defendant Chau Pak-ho, 41, another director cum shareholder of Asia Great, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. He earlier pleaded guilty to one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (commonly known as money laundering).In sentencing, Judge Mr Ernest Lin Kam-hung reprimanded Yau for abusing his official capacity to defraud the employer of money in an organised manner over a long period. His criminal act had undermined Hong Kong’s business environment.Following Yau’s payment of about $770,000 in compensation to Kingworld Medicine, the prosecution filed an application with the court today to confiscate his remaining crime proceeds totalling about $300,000. In allowing the application, the judge ordered Yau to satisfy the confiscation order within six months, failing which Yau will have to serve an additional prison term of 14 months.The above offences were revealed during an ICAC investigation arising from a corruption complaint. At the material time, Kingworld Medicine was a distributor and wholesaler of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland, while Asia Great was a provider of secretarial and accounting services.The court heard that between February 2017 and May 2022, Yu prepared seven invoices issued by Asia Great upon Yau’s instruction, to falsely represent that Asia Great had provided consultancy services regarding food nutrient labelling, legal regulations and import and export licensing, etc., to Kingworld Medicine. Yau then submitted those invoices to Kingworld Medicine to deceive the company into paying consultancy service fees totalling over $530,000 to Asia Great.Yau and Yu also deployed similar means to deceive Hong Kong Ling Feng Advertising Company Limited (Ling Feng), a contracted advertising agency of Kingworld Medicine, into assisting them to reimburse fees of Asia Great. Yau made false representations to Ling Feng that Asia Great had provided consultancy services to Kingworld, and advised Ling Feng to make payment to Asia Great by deducting the amount prepaid by Kingworld Medicine to Ling Feng under an annual advertising contract.Between March 2019 and September 2023, Yau submitted six invoices issued by Asia Great to Ling Feng to deceive the latter into paying consultancy service fees totalling over $540,000 to Asia Great on behalf of Kingworld Medicine.The ICAC enquiries revealed that Asia Great had never provided any services to Kingworld Medicine despite receiving service fees totalling about $1.1 million. Chau assisted in handling $180,000 of the crime proceeds and transferred the sum to Yau.Kingworld Medicine rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutors Cherry Chong and Catherine Xiao, assisted by ICAC officers Giggs Poon and Gavin Lau. 18
May 2026Eight months’ jail for shuttle bus company operations assistant charged by ICAC for accepting $30,000 bribes over driver employmentA then operations assistant of a shuttle bus company, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 18) sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes totalling over $32,000 regarding the employment of a driver.Chow King-lung, 45, then operations assistant of a subsidiary of Great Leader Bus Holdings Limited (Great Leader Bus), earlier pleaded guilty to five counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). The court had earlier 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.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong remarked that the purpose of the POBO was to safeguard fairness in society. Noting that the defendant had committed the same corruption offence in the past, the court deemed an immediate custodial sentence necessary.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 regarding their employment with the company and its subsidiaries.The court heard that between September 2024 and January 2025, the defendant accepted bribes totalling over $32,000 from a driver to employ her on the abovementioned route.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant 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. 15
May 2026Company director gets 32 months’ jail for using false passport to open bank accounts as revealed in ICAC graft probeA company director, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 15) sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment at the District Court after being convicted 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 earlier 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.In sentencing, Deputy Judge Mr Ko Wai-hung remarked that the integrity of Hong Kong’s banking system must be protected. The court had to mete out a deterrent sentence to warn others against attempting similar money-laundering and illicit activities even though the defendant did not use certain bank accounts involved in this case.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. 08
May 2026Property vendor charged by ICAC sentenced for offering bribe to estate agent for waiving agency commissionOne of the two property vendors, charged by the ICAC for offering a $30,000 bribe to an estate agent for waiving a $155,000 agency commission in relation to the sale of a residential property, was sentenced today (May 8) after entering a guilty plea at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.Leung Kee-ming, 48, today pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). He was sentenced by Principal Magistrate Mr Don So Man-lung to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, fined $5,000.The court heard that at the material time, Leung engaged Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline Property) to sell a residential flat on Lantau Island. According to the estate agency agreement signed with Centaline Property, Leung agreed to pay one per cent of the property transaction sum as agency commission to Centaline Property upon successful transaction.After subsequently securing a potential buyer for the flat, an estate agent of Centaline Property informed Leung that an offer of $15.5 million had been made. Pursuant to the estate agency agreement, Leung was required to pay an agency commission of $155,000 to Centaline Property upon successful completion of the transaction. The estate agent subsequently arranged for Leung and the buyer to sign a preliminary sale and purchase agreement (the preliminary agreement) on December 24, 2023.Leung admitted that he offered a bribe of $30,000 to the estate agent on December 23, 2023, one day before the scheduled signing of the preliminary agreement, to waive the agency commission to be charged by Centaline Property for the property transaction.The estate agent rejected the bribe and reported the matter to Centaline Property on the same day. Centaline Property rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.Tse Wai-ling, 34, another property vendor in the present case, faced the charge of offering an advantage to an agent. No plea was entered when she appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today. The case was adjourned to July 3 for mention.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Carson Lau.
Jun 2026Father of then listed company deputy general manager charged by ICAC for role in AUD$25m bribery in overseas property project investmentsThe ICAC earlier charged a then deputy general manager of a listed company and his mother with bribery for showing favour to an Australian businessman regarding the listed company's investments in overseas property development projects. Following further investigation by the Commission and legal advice from the Department of Justice, the father of the then deputy general manager was charged for his role in the corruption scheme involving bribes amounting to about AUD$25 million.Ng Cho-wong, 77, was charged last Thursday (May 28) with two counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. He was released on ICAC bail, pending his appearance at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts for mention on Wednesday (June 3).Ng Wai, 46, Ng Cho-wong's son and then deputy general manager of Beijing Capital Land Limited (BCL, delisted); and Han Shang-min, 75, Ng Cho-wong's wife, were earlier jointly charged by the ICAC with one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantage. Their case was scheduled for mention on Wednesday at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts.BCL was listed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited from June 2003 to September 2021. At the material time, Ng Cho-wong’s son, Ng Wai, served as the deputy general manager of BCL, and also as the general manager of BCL's branch in Australia.The two charges against Ng Cho-wong allege that he conspired with Ng Wai and Han Shang-min between June 2014 and November 2021 to accept bribes totalling AUD$22 million and an investment opportunity contract, making a profit of about AUD$3 million, from an Australian businessman for Ng Wai to show favour to the Australian businessman and his associated companies in relation to BCL's business.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that following Ng Wai's recommendations, BCL invested in various property development projects in Australia worth approximately AUD$820 million in total since 2014. Most of these projects were developed by companies associated with the Australian businessman. 26
May 2026Ex-general manager of pharmaceutical wholesaler and two others charged by ICAC for $1.1m service fees fraud jailed for up to 26 monthsAn ICAC corruption investigation revealed that a then general manager of a pharmaceutical wholesaler made false representations regarding consultancy services provided by a secretarial services company operated by his subordinate to defraud the pharmaceutical wholesaler of service fees totalling about $1.1 million, while a business partner of the subordinate had assisted in money-laundering. The trio were today (May 26) sentenced at the District Court to jail terms ranging from 10 to 26 months.Watson Yau Wei-ching, 56, then general manager of Kingworld Medicine Healthcare Limited (Kingworld Medicine), was jailed for 26 months; his then subordinate Alen Yu Yuen-to, 44, then marketing officer of Kingworld Medicine and director cum shareholder of Asia Great Services Limited (Asia Great), received a jail term of 20 months. The duo earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.Co-defendant Chau Pak-ho, 41, another director cum shareholder of Asia Great, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. He earlier pleaded guilty to one count of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (commonly known as money laundering).In sentencing, Judge Mr Ernest Lin Kam-hung reprimanded Yau for abusing his official capacity to defraud the employer of money in an organised manner over a long period. His criminal act had undermined Hong Kong’s business environment.Following Yau’s payment of about $770,000 in compensation to Kingworld Medicine, the prosecution filed an application with the court today to confiscate his remaining crime proceeds totalling about $300,000. In allowing the application, the judge ordered Yau to satisfy the confiscation order within six months, failing which Yau will have to serve an additional prison term of 14 months.The above offences were revealed during an ICAC investigation arising from a corruption complaint. At the material time, Kingworld Medicine was a distributor and wholesaler of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland, while Asia Great was a provider of secretarial and accounting services.The court heard that between February 2017 and May 2022, Yu prepared seven invoices issued by Asia Great upon Yau’s instruction, to falsely represent that Asia Great had provided consultancy services regarding food nutrient labelling, legal regulations and import and export licensing, etc., to Kingworld Medicine. Yau then submitted those invoices to Kingworld Medicine to deceive the company into paying consultancy service fees totalling over $530,000 to Asia Great.Yau and Yu also deployed similar means to deceive Hong Kong Ling Feng Advertising Company Limited (Ling Feng), a contracted advertising agency of Kingworld Medicine, into assisting them to reimburse fees of Asia Great. Yau made false representations to Ling Feng that Asia Great had provided consultancy services to Kingworld, and advised Ling Feng to make payment to Asia Great by deducting the amount prepaid by Kingworld Medicine to Ling Feng under an annual advertising contract.Between March 2019 and September 2023, Yau submitted six invoices issued by Asia Great to Ling Feng to deceive the latter into paying consultancy service fees totalling over $540,000 to Asia Great on behalf of Kingworld Medicine.The ICAC enquiries revealed that Asia Great had never provided any services to Kingworld Medicine despite receiving service fees totalling about $1.1 million. Chau assisted in handling $180,000 of the crime proceeds and transferred the sum to Yau.Kingworld Medicine rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutors Cherry Chong and Catherine Xiao, assisted by ICAC officers Giggs Poon and Gavin Lau. 18
May 2026Eight months’ jail for shuttle bus company operations assistant charged by ICAC for accepting $30,000 bribes over driver employmentA then operations assistant of a shuttle bus company, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 18) sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes totalling over $32,000 regarding the employment of a driver.Chow King-lung, 45, then operations assistant of a subsidiary of Great Leader Bus Holdings Limited (Great Leader Bus), earlier pleaded guilty to five counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). The court had earlier 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.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr David Chum Yau-fong remarked that the purpose of the POBO was to safeguard fairness in society. Noting that the defendant had committed the same corruption offence in the past, the court deemed an immediate custodial sentence necessary.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 regarding their employment with the company and its subsidiaries.The court heard that between September 2024 and January 2025, the defendant accepted bribes totalling over $32,000 from a driver to employ her on the abovementioned route.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that the defendant 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. 15
May 2026Company director gets 32 months’ jail for using false passport to open bank accounts as revealed in ICAC graft probeA company director, charged by the ICAC, was today (May 15) sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment at the District Court after being convicted 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 earlier 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.In sentencing, Deputy Judge Mr Ko Wai-hung remarked that the integrity of Hong Kong’s banking system must be protected. The court had to mete out a deterrent sentence to warn others against attempting similar money-laundering and illicit activities even though the defendant did not use certain bank accounts involved in this case.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. 08
May 2026Property vendor charged by ICAC sentenced for offering bribe to estate agent for waiving agency commissionOne of the two property vendors, charged by the ICAC for offering a $30,000 bribe to an estate agent for waiving a $155,000 agency commission in relation to the sale of a residential property, was sentenced today (May 8) after entering a guilty plea at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.Leung Kee-ming, 48, today pleaded guilty to one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO). He was sentenced by Principal Magistrate Mr Don So Man-lung to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, fined $5,000.The court heard that at the material time, Leung engaged Centaline Property Agency Limited (Centaline Property) to sell a residential flat on Lantau Island. According to the estate agency agreement signed with Centaline Property, Leung agreed to pay one per cent of the property transaction sum as agency commission to Centaline Property upon successful transaction.After subsequently securing a potential buyer for the flat, an estate agent of Centaline Property informed Leung that an offer of $15.5 million had been made. Pursuant to the estate agency agreement, Leung was required to pay an agency commission of $155,000 to Centaline Property upon successful completion of the transaction. The estate agent subsequently arranged for Leung and the buyer to sign a preliminary sale and purchase agreement (the preliminary agreement) on December 24, 2023.Leung admitted that he offered a bribe of $30,000 to the estate agent on December 23, 2023, one day before the scheduled signing of the preliminary agreement, to waive the agency commission to be charged by Centaline Property for the property transaction.The estate agent rejected the bribe and reported the matter to Centaline Property on the same day. Centaline Property rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.Tse Wai-ling, 34, another property vendor in the present case, faced the charge of offering an advantage to an agent. No plea was entered when she appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts today. The case was adjourned to July 3 for mention.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Carson Lau.