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Ethical Decision MakingRecent ICAC Cases
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Jan 2026Listed company trio and subcontractors among 14 arrested by ICAC for bribery over cleaning projectsIn 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. 15
Jan 2026Three property agents in bribes-for-vendor-information case jailed for up to 10 monthsThree property agents charged by the ICAC were today (January 15) sentenced to imprisonment of five to 10 months at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts for offering and accepting bribes totalling $32,500 for divulging information of over 1,000 property vendors to promote services of the property agency.Kong Ka-shing, 27, property agent of Midland Realty International Limited (Midland Realty), received a jail term of 10 months. He was earlier found guilty of two charges after trial – one of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent, contrary to section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.Tong Hei-yi, 31; and Chau Ting-fung, 42, both directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property (Corp) Limited (Kashing Property), were respectively sentenced to five months and six months in jail. The duo earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage.In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Miss Li Cheuk-wai remarked that the defendants committed crimes premeditatedly. Kong had abused his position as a property agent of Midland Realty to obtain its information and divulge it to the party of Tong and Chau, resulting in benefit to Kashing Property. Given the seriousness of the offences, a custodial sentence was inevitable.At the material time, Kong was posted to a branch of Midland Realty in Shatin, while Tong and Chau were directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property, a property agency providing property agency services in Taipo and nearby areas. Midland Realty prohibited its property agents from divulging confidential client information and forbade them from accepting any advantages in relation to Midland Realty’s business.The court heard that between May and October 2022, Kong had accepted bribes totalling $32,500 from individuals including Tong and Chau for retrieving the information of property vendors, including their surnames, phone numbers and property addresses, from the database of Midland Realty.During the six-month period when the offences took place, Kong had divulged over 1,000 records of property vendors to Tong, Chau and others for Kashing Property to promote its services.Midland Realty rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Joe Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Chacha Chan.The ICAC is always committed to maintaining an integrity culture in the estate agency sector by continuously providing anti-corruption training to its practitioners. The ICAC reminds all property agents that abusing authority to accept illegal advantages might constitute bribery, and both the offeror and recipient can be liable for an offence. Members of the public should never take part in any corrupt activities. 08
Jan 2026Hotpot restaurant duo charged by ICAC in $1.2m renovation fee fraudTwo former shareholders of a hotpot restaurant were charged by the ICAC today (January 8) for allegedly conspiring together to defraud the restaurant of $1.2 million by inflating its renovation fee.Iong Chi-fai, 49; and Wen Hoi-tik, 43, both former shareholders of Peach Garden Catering Operation Limited (Peach Garden), face one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 9) for mention. The prosecution will apply to transfer the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, the duo were two of the shareholders of Peach Garden, overseeing its daily operations, while Wen’s shares in the company were held by his wife. All shareholders, including the two defendants, agreed to inject $6.6 million in total in Peach Garden to operate a hotpot restaurant. The duo were responsible for handling the renovation work of its hotpot restaurant, including sourcing a renovation contractor and negotiating the renovation fee with it.The charge alleges that between August 2022 and June 2023, the duo had allegedly conspired together to defraud Peach Garden by falsely representing that the total costs of the renovation work of the hotpot restaurant were about $4 million, and that Iong had paid a renovation fee of $1.2 million to an engineering company on behalf of Peach Garden.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Iong did not pay any renovation fee on behalf of Peach Garden. It was alleged that by making the false representations, the two defendants had inflated the costs of the renovation work by $1.2 million and shared the money.Peach Garden and the engineering company concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 07
Jan 2026Woman charged by ICAC for bribing bank employee over account openingA woman charged by the ICAC appeared in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for mention this afternoon (January 7) for allegedly offering a bribe of $100 to a bank employee for opening a personal bank account.Zhang Li, 60, retiree, faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.No plea was entered today. Magistrate Mr Gary Chu Man-hon adjourned the case to March 4 for mention and granted the defendant bail.On the afternoon of January 5, 2026, the defendant visited a branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in Tai Kok Tsui to open a personal bank account. An employee of HSBC advised the defendant to submit her application via HSBC’s mobile application, but she failed to complete the application.The charge alleges that the defendant offered a bribe of $100 to the HSBC employee on the same day in exchange for assistance to open a personal bank account with HSBC.The HSBC employee immediately stopped the defendant and rejected her offer, and reported the matter to her supervisor. The defendant was arrested by the ICAC following the receipt of a corruption complaint.The ICAC reminds the public not to bribe bank staff in exchange for its services. Should anyone come across any suspicion of corruption, he or she should report to the ICAC immediately. ICAC 24-hour Report Corruption Hotline: 25 266 366.HSBC has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Billy Lai. 06
Jan 2026Ex-bank employee and intermediary charged by ICAC jailed for six months for bribery over account openingA former bank employee and an operator of an intermediary, charged by the ICAC, were both sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (January 6) following their guilty pleas to having conspired together to accept bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, for assisting clients of the intermediary to open bank accounts.Chan Chun-hei, 30, then senior universal banker of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC), and Zhang Ling, 30, director and shareholder of A Link Consulting Hong Kong Limited (A Link), were both sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.The duo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Another charge of offering an advantage to an agent against Chan was left on court file.In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Ms May Chung Ming-sun remarked that the imposition of deterrent sentences was necessary to eradicate corruption and build a clean society. Considering the number of bank accounts and the amount of bribes involved in the present case, the court took nine months in jail for sentencing as the starting point. The defendants’ jail terms were reduced to six months, taking into account their guilty pleas and other mitigating factors.The court also ordered Chan to make restitution of over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, equivalent to the bribe amount involved, to HSBC.At the material time, Chan was posted to a branch of HSBC in Kowloon Bay. A Link was set up by Zhang to provide services in Mainland for opening bank accounts in Hong Kong. Each client who successfully opened an account would be charged a service fee ranging from RMB500 to RMB1,500.The court heard that between March 2024 and January 2025, Chan had accepted bribes of over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, from Zhang for assisting over 120 clients referred by Zhang and her associates to open bank accounts at HSBC.The ICAC has long attached great importance to the integrity of bank practitioners. With the full support of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Association of Banks and the banking industry, the ICAC launched the Banking Industry Integrity Charter last year to promote an integrity culture in the industry. The ICAC will continue to enhance its exchange with the industry under the framework of the Charter to heighten practitioners’ sensitivity to corruption risks, and provide continuous integrity training for bank practitioners.HSBC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Samantha Nichols.
Jan 2026Listed company trio and subcontractors among 14 arrested by ICAC for bribery over cleaning projectsIn 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. 15
Jan 2026Three property agents in bribes-for-vendor-information case jailed for up to 10 monthsThree property agents charged by the ICAC were today (January 15) sentenced to imprisonment of five to 10 months at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts for offering and accepting bribes totalling $32,500 for divulging information of over 1,000 property vendors to promote services of the property agency.Kong Ka-shing, 27, property agent of Midland Realty International Limited (Midland Realty), received a jail term of 10 months. He was earlier found guilty of two charges after trial – one of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance, and one of access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent, contrary to section 161(1)(c) of the Crimes Ordinance.Tong Hei-yi, 31; and Chau Ting-fung, 42, both directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property (Corp) Limited (Kashing Property), were respectively sentenced to five months and six months in jail. The duo earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage.In sentencing, Deputy Magistrate Miss Li Cheuk-wai remarked that the defendants committed crimes premeditatedly. Kong had abused his position as a property agent of Midland Realty to obtain its information and divulge it to the party of Tong and Chau, resulting in benefit to Kashing Property. Given the seriousness of the offences, a custodial sentence was inevitable.At the material time, Kong was posted to a branch of Midland Realty in Shatin, while Tong and Chau were directors-cum-shareholders of Kashing Property, a property agency providing property agency services in Taipo and nearby areas. Midland Realty prohibited its property agents from divulging confidential client information and forbade them from accepting any advantages in relation to Midland Realty’s business.The court heard that between May and October 2022, Kong had accepted bribes totalling $32,500 from individuals including Tong and Chau for retrieving the information of property vendors, including their surnames, phone numbers and property addresses, from the database of Midland Realty.During the six-month period when the offences took place, Kong had divulged over 1,000 records of property vendors to Tong, Chau and others for Kashing Property to promote its services.Midland Realty rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Joe Chan, assisted by ICAC officer Chacha Chan.The ICAC is always committed to maintaining an integrity culture in the estate agency sector by continuously providing anti-corruption training to its practitioners. The ICAC reminds all property agents that abusing authority to accept illegal advantages might constitute bribery, and both the offeror and recipient can be liable for an offence. Members of the public should never take part in any corrupt activities. 08
Jan 2026Hotpot restaurant duo charged by ICAC in $1.2m renovation fee fraudTwo former shareholders of a hotpot restaurant were charged by the ICAC today (January 8) for allegedly conspiring together to defraud the restaurant of $1.2 million by inflating its renovation fee.Iong Chi-fai, 49; and Wen Hoi-tik, 43, both former shareholders of Peach Garden Catering Operation Limited (Peach Garden), face one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. The duo were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (January 9) for mention. The prosecution will apply to transfer the case to the District Court for plea.At the material time, the duo were two of the shareholders of Peach Garden, overseeing its daily operations, while Wen’s shares in the company were held by his wife. All shareholders, including the two defendants, agreed to inject $6.6 million in total in Peach Garden to operate a hotpot restaurant. The duo were responsible for handling the renovation work of its hotpot restaurant, including sourcing a renovation contractor and negotiating the renovation fee with it.The charge alleges that between August 2022 and June 2023, the duo had allegedly conspired together to defraud Peach Garden by falsely representing that the total costs of the renovation work of the hotpot restaurant were about $4 million, and that Iong had paid a renovation fee of $1.2 million to an engineering company on behalf of Peach Garden.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Iong did not pay any renovation fee on behalf of Peach Garden. It was alleged that by making the false representations, the two defendants had inflated the costs of the renovation work by $1.2 million and shared the money.Peach Garden and the engineering company concerned rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 07
Jan 2026Woman charged by ICAC for bribing bank employee over account openingA woman charged by the ICAC appeared in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for mention this afternoon (January 7) for allegedly offering a bribe of $100 to a bank employee for opening a personal bank account.Zhang Li, 60, retiree, faces one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.No plea was entered today. Magistrate Mr Gary Chu Man-hon adjourned the case to March 4 for mention and granted the defendant bail.On the afternoon of January 5, 2026, the defendant visited a branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in Tai Kok Tsui to open a personal bank account. An employee of HSBC advised the defendant to submit her application via HSBC’s mobile application, but she failed to complete the application.The charge alleges that the defendant offered a bribe of $100 to the HSBC employee on the same day in exchange for assistance to open a personal bank account with HSBC.The HSBC employee immediately stopped the defendant and rejected her offer, and reported the matter to her supervisor. The defendant was arrested by the ICAC following the receipt of a corruption complaint.The ICAC reminds the public not to bribe bank staff in exchange for its services. Should anyone come across any suspicion of corruption, he or she should report to the ICAC immediately. ICAC 24-hour Report Corruption Hotline: 25 266 366.HSBC has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Billy Lai. 06
Jan 2026Ex-bank employee and intermediary charged by ICAC jailed for six months for bribery over account openingA former bank employee and an operator of an intermediary, charged by the ICAC, were both sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (January 6) following their guilty pleas to having conspired together to accept bribes totalling over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, for assisting clients of the intermediary to open bank accounts.Chan Chun-hei, 30, then senior universal banker of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC), and Zhang Ling, 30, director and shareholder of A Link Consulting Hong Kong Limited (A Link), were both sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.The duo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. Another charge of offering an advantage to an agent against Chan was left on court file.In sentencing, Acting Principal Magistrate Ms May Chung Ming-sun remarked that the imposition of deterrent sentences was necessary to eradicate corruption and build a clean society. Considering the number of bank accounts and the amount of bribes involved in the present case, the court took nine months in jail for sentencing as the starting point. The defendants’ jail terms were reduced to six months, taking into account their guilty pleas and other mitigating factors.The court also ordered Chan to make restitution of over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, equivalent to the bribe amount involved, to HSBC.At the material time, Chan was posted to a branch of HSBC in Kowloon Bay. A Link was set up by Zhang to provide services in Mainland for opening bank accounts in Hong Kong. Each client who successfully opened an account would be charged a service fee ranging from RMB500 to RMB1,500.The court heard that between March 2024 and January 2025, Chan had accepted bribes of over RMB13,000, i.e., about HK$15,000, from Zhang for assisting over 120 clients referred by Zhang and her associates to open bank accounts at HSBC.The ICAC has long attached great importance to the integrity of bank practitioners. With the full support of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Association of Banks and the banking industry, the ICAC launched the Banking Industry Integrity Charter last year to promote an integrity culture in the industry. The ICAC will continue to enhance its exchange with the industry under the framework of the Charter to heighten practitioners’ sensitivity to corruption risks, and provide continuous integrity training for bank practitioners.HSBC rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Samantha Nichols.