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Ethical Decision MakingRecent ICAC Cases
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Oct 2024Trio charged by ICAC with bribery and fraud over referral of bank clients’ mortgage loan applicationsThe ICAC had charged two former employees of two banks and a mortgage loan referral agent in the past two days (October 15 and 16) for alleged bribery and fraud in relation to referral of loan applications of clients without the banks’ permission and swindling referral fees by making false representations to the banks. The bribe money and agent referral fees involved totally over $34,000.Amy Chow Bik-sum, 48, former assistant customer service manager of OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (formerly known as OCBC Wing Hang Bank Limited) (OCBC); Yip Man-yee, 46, sole proprietor of The Capital Property (TCP); and Mak Miu-ling, 55, former deputy manager of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited (ICBC (Asia)), jointly face one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. Chow and Yip further face 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.The trio were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 18) for plea.OCBC and ICBC (Asia) would release agency referral fees to the banks’ appointed mortgage intermediaries for successful residential mortgage applications, but the banks would not release commissions or agency referral fees to their staff who handled such applications.Cybernetics Property Mortgage Limited (CPM) was an appointed mortgage intermediary of ICBC (Asia). CPM would release 95% of the agency referral fee received from ICBC (Asia) as a broker fee to their agents for each successful mortgage application procured.At the material time, Chow was an assistant customer service manager of OCBC posted to its Tsim Sha Tsui branch, while Mak was a deputy manager of ICBC (Asia) posted to its Ho Man Tin branch. Among their duties, both Chow and Mak were responsible for handling residential mortgage applications. Yip was the sole proprietor of TCP, a lending referral agency, which was CPM’s agent in mortgage referral business and was entitled to receive a broker fee from CPM for each successful mortgage application referred to a bank.Between August 2019 and March 2021, Chow allegedly referred two OCBC clients to Mak and Yip respectively for arranging the clients to apply to ICBC (Asia) for mortgage loans.It is alleged that between September 2019 and March 2020, the trio falsely represented to ICBC (Asia) that the mortgage loan application of the aforesaid first client was referred by CPM, and deceived ICBC (Asia) into paying a mortgage loan referral fee of $18,000 to CPM.It is also alleged that between January and August 2021, Chow accepted a bribe of over $16,000 from Yip for referring the aforesaid second client’s mortgage loan application to TCP.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Chow, without obtaining a permission from OCBC, had allegedly referred the two clients to Mak and Yip respectively for arranging the clients to file mortgage loan applications with ICBC (Asia). Due to the aforesaid scam, TCP received two broker fees of about $17,000 and about $32,000 respectively from CPM. The ICAC probe also revealed that the aforesaid first client had never entrusted CPM and TCP to file his mortgage loan application with ICBC (Asia). Since both ICBC (Asia) and CPM had no knowledge of the relevant actual situation, they had eventually released the agent referral fee and broker fee to CPM and TCP separately.OCBC did not allow its employees to refer mortgage loan applications of the bank’s clients to other individuals or institutions, and the bank also prohibited its employees from soliciting or accepting advantages from others in relation to OCBC’s business.OCBC, ICAC (Asia) and CPM have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 15
Oct 2024Former worker of Airport project charged by ICAC receives seven months’ jail for accepting bribes over workers’ employmentA then installation worker of a project subcontractor of the SkyPier Terminal Ferry Transfer in the Hong Kong International Airport, earlier charged by the ICAC, was today (October 15) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to a jail term of seven months after admitting that he had accepted bribes of about $22,000 from three fellow workers for securing their employment with the subcontractor.Chan Kwai-san, 44, then installation worker of Jarvan E&M Engineering Limited (JEM), today pleaded guilty to three counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming remarked that the case, which was serious in nature, was not an isolated incident. The defendant exploited the workers by abusing his official capacity, and undermined the fairness of the society as well as the employer’s interest. The magistrate took a starting point of nine months’ imprisonment, and reduced the jail term to seven months having considered the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors. The defendant was also ordered to make a restitution of $21,800, equivalent to the amount of the bribes he accepted, to his then employer.The court heard that at the material time, JEM was the subcontractor of the baggage carousels installation works project at the SkyPier Terminal Ferry Transfer in the Hong Kong International Airport. JEM recruited workers mainly through referral from existing workers, and all workers were employed at a daily wage of $1,200. All JEM staff members were prohibited from soliciting or accepting advantages from others in relation to the company’s business. The defendant joined JEM in June 2022 as an installation worker of the project. He would also introduce workers to JEM.The defendant admitted that between July and November 2022, he had respectively solicited a bribe of $100 per working day from each of three fellow workers who joined JEM upon the defendant’s referral. The trio believed that if they did not pay the bribes, they would not be employed by JEM, and hence they acceded to the defendant’s solicitations. The defendant had accepted bribes from the trio totalling about $22,000, each ranging from $4,500 to $8,700.JEM had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Cyrus Chan.An ICAC spokesperson stresses that soliciting or accepting bribes for assisting others in employment is a serious bribery offence. The maximum penalty on conviction of the offence is a seven-year imprisonment and a fine of $500,000. The ICAC also urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to pay bribes in exchange for their employment, they should reject and report to the ICAC immediately through the 24-hour hotline (25 266 366). 08
Oct 2024Company proprietor charged by ICAC gets 22 months’ jail for $3.1m SME guaranteed loan fraudA company proprietor, charged by the ICAC, was today (October 8) sentenced to an imprisonment of 22 months at the District Court after admitting that he had deceived a bank into approving a loan of $3.1 million under the Special 100% Loan Guarantee (SLG) scheme by making false representations concerning the company’s contributions to the employees’ Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).Arri Wong Ka-nam, 55, proprietor of 24 Hr Locksmith, today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. In sentencing, Deputy Judge Mr Cheng Lim-chi remarked that fraud was a serious offence. He took a starting point of an imprisonment of 36 months and reduced the jail term to 22 months having considered the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors.The court heard that in April 2020, as one of the relief measures of the government, HKMC Insurance Limited (HKMCI) launched the SLG under the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Financing Guarantee Scheme to ease SMEs’ cash flow pressure during the pandemic.Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (Standard Chartered Bank) was one of the participating lenders under the scheme. After confirming an application received was legitimate, the bank would forward the application to HKMCI for final review and approval to grant a guarantee.In September 2020, the defendant submitted an SLG loan application to Standard Chartered Bank, supported by false MPF statements which purportedly showed that 24 Hr Locksmith had made monthly contributions of $19,000 for its seven employees to an MPF trustee in Hong Kong.Standard Chartered Bank subsequently found that the loan application was suspicious and hence did not forward it to HKMCI for final approval. As a result, 24 Hr Locksmith had not been approved of the facility concerned.The ICAC investigation, which arose from a corruption complaint, revealed that 24 Hr Locksmith had never held any account with the MPF trustee nor made any MPF contributions for its employees.HKMCI, Standard Chartered Bank and the MPF trustee concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Public Prosecutor Jason Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Kiki Chu. 07
Oct 2024Four charged by ICAC for conspiracy to defraud over $3.2m payroll of ‘ghost workers’ in supermarket chainThe ICAC today (October 7) charged a then-senior supervisor of a supermarket chain and three then contractor or casual workers for allegedly conspiring together to deceive the supermarket chain of wages totalling over $3.2 million in two years by using attendance records of “ghost workers”.The defendants are Lau Kin-pong, 42, former senior supervisor of PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited (PARKnSHOP); Tai Kin-man, 41, former assistant manager of Earnward Warehouse Limited (Earnward Warehouse); Wong Wai-fung, 25; and Wong Pak-kan, 26, both former casual workers of PARKnSHOP contractor. They jointly face one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (October 9) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court.Supermarket chain PARKnSHOP operated a product distribution center in Fo Tan, which was responsible for sorting and packaging online orders for distribution to customers. PARKnSHOP hired a contractor, Logistics Network Management Limited (Logistics Network), to provide casual workers for the distribution center, while Earnward Warehouse was responsible for supervising the operation of Logistics Network.At the material time, Lau Kin-pong was the senior supervisor of PARKnSHOP responsible for handling the administrative duties of the distribution center. Tai Kin-man was the assistant manager of Earnward Warehouse responsible for verifying casual workers’ attendance. Wong Wai-fung and Wong Pak-kan were casual workers hired by Logistics Network for recruiting and overseeing other causal workers at the distribution center. Logistics Network required all casual workers to clock their time cards when reporting duty and getting off work, and to sign on a daily attendance sheet to verify their on-duty time.The alleged offence took place between June 2019 and April 2021. The four defendants were alleged to have conspired with two other persons to defraud PARKnSHOP by falsely representing to the supermarket that 13 casual workers had worked at the distribution center for the working hours shown on their respective attendance records, inducing PARKnSHOP to release wages totalling over $3.2 million for the workers.The ICAC investigation, which arose from a corruption complaint, revealed that the defendants allegedly rented an office near the distribution center and purchased a clocking machine of the same model used in the distribution center. They allegedly fabricated the attendance records of the 13 “ghost workers” to deceive the distribution centre of wages and shared the fraudulent gains. Enquiries also revealed that the 13 casual workers concerned had not worked at the center at the material time and they had not received any wages. Their signatures on the daily attendance sheets were forged and they did not sign on any wage acknowledgements.PARKnSHOP has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 02
Oct 2024Ex-director of electronics assembly equipment manufacturer and merchant charged by ICAC for alleged $6m bribery dealThe ICAC today (October 2) charged a former director of an electronics assembly equipment manufacturer and a merchant for allegedly striking a deal with a shareholder of a technology firm to accept bribes totalling over $6 million from the latter for assisting the technology firm to be engaged as an electronics assembly equipment distributor.Lau Wai-leung, 49, former sales director of ASMPT Hong Kong Limited (formerly named as ASM Pacific (Hong Kong) Limited) (ASMPT); and Terry Wong Yuk-yan, 46, merchant, jointly face one count 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.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 3) for mention. The prosecution will submit an application for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.ASMPT was a company under a group which was a manufacturer of electronics assembly equipment (collectively referred to as ASMPT). ASMPT engaged in sales of the group’s electronics assembly equipment products to customers in the Mainland and the Greater China Region. In addition to direct sales of the group’s products to customers, since 2019, ASMPT also engaged distributors to sell its products.The alleged offence took place between January 2019 and January 2023. At the material time, Lau was a sales director of ASMPT responsible for sales of ASMPT’s products and handling matters in relation to distributors. He left the company in January 2023. Meanwhile, Wong, a merchant, allegedly played the role of a middleman in the case.The charge alleges that the defendants conspired together for Lau to accept bribes totalling over $6 million from a shareholder of a technology firm for assisting the firm to be selected as a distributor of ASMPT.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint concerning ASMPT’s distributors. Enquiries revealed that Lau had allegedly reached the bribery agreement with the technology firm shareholder through Wong. According to the bribery agreement, the shareholder of the technology firm had allegedly offered Lau bribe money equivalent to 20 per cent of the firm’s sales profit as a reward. Inquiries revealed that since the technology firm was engaged as ASMPT’s distributor, the firm had sold over 1,000 sets of ASMPT’s electronics assembly equipment, involving bribes amounting to a total of over $6 million.ASMPT has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. ASMPT prohibited its staff members from soliciting or accepting advantages from others in relation to ASMPT’s business and affairs.
Oct 2024Trio charged by ICAC with bribery and fraud over referral of bank clients’ mortgage loan applicationsThe ICAC had charged two former employees of two banks and a mortgage loan referral agent in the past two days (October 15 and 16) for alleged bribery and fraud in relation to referral of loan applications of clients without the banks’ permission and swindling referral fees by making false representations to the banks. The bribe money and agent referral fees involved totally over $34,000.Amy Chow Bik-sum, 48, former assistant customer service manager of OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (formerly known as OCBC Wing Hang Bank Limited) (OCBC); Yip Man-yee, 46, sole proprietor of The Capital Property (TCP); and Mak Miu-ling, 55, former deputy manager of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited (ICBC (Asia)), jointly face one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. Chow and Yip further face 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.The trio were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 18) for plea.OCBC and ICBC (Asia) would release agency referral fees to the banks’ appointed mortgage intermediaries for successful residential mortgage applications, but the banks would not release commissions or agency referral fees to their staff who handled such applications.Cybernetics Property Mortgage Limited (CPM) was an appointed mortgage intermediary of ICBC (Asia). CPM would release 95% of the agency referral fee received from ICBC (Asia) as a broker fee to their agents for each successful mortgage application procured.At the material time, Chow was an assistant customer service manager of OCBC posted to its Tsim Sha Tsui branch, while Mak was a deputy manager of ICBC (Asia) posted to its Ho Man Tin branch. Among their duties, both Chow and Mak were responsible for handling residential mortgage applications. Yip was the sole proprietor of TCP, a lending referral agency, which was CPM’s agent in mortgage referral business and was entitled to receive a broker fee from CPM for each successful mortgage application referred to a bank.Between August 2019 and March 2021, Chow allegedly referred two OCBC clients to Mak and Yip respectively for arranging the clients to apply to ICBC (Asia) for mortgage loans.It is alleged that between September 2019 and March 2020, the trio falsely represented to ICBC (Asia) that the mortgage loan application of the aforesaid first client was referred by CPM, and deceived ICBC (Asia) into paying a mortgage loan referral fee of $18,000 to CPM.It is also alleged that between January and August 2021, Chow accepted a bribe of over $16,000 from Yip for referring the aforesaid second client’s mortgage loan application to TCP.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint. Enquiries revealed that Chow, without obtaining a permission from OCBC, had allegedly referred the two clients to Mak and Yip respectively for arranging the clients to file mortgage loan applications with ICBC (Asia). Due to the aforesaid scam, TCP received two broker fees of about $17,000 and about $32,000 respectively from CPM. The ICAC probe also revealed that the aforesaid first client had never entrusted CPM and TCP to file his mortgage loan application with ICBC (Asia). Since both ICBC (Asia) and CPM had no knowledge of the relevant actual situation, they had eventually released the agent referral fee and broker fee to CPM and TCP separately.OCBC did not allow its employees to refer mortgage loan applications of the bank’s clients to other individuals or institutions, and the bank also prohibited its employees from soliciting or accepting advantages from others in relation to OCBC’s business.OCBC, ICAC (Asia) and CPM have rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 15
Oct 2024Former worker of Airport project charged by ICAC receives seven months’ jail for accepting bribes over workers’ employmentA then installation worker of a project subcontractor of the SkyPier Terminal Ferry Transfer in the Hong Kong International Airport, earlier charged by the ICAC, was today (October 15) sentenced at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to a jail term of seven months after admitting that he had accepted bribes of about $22,000 from three fellow workers for securing their employment with the subcontractor.Chan Kwai-san, 44, then installation worker of Jarvan E&M Engineering Limited (JEM), today pleaded guilty to three counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jason Wan Siu-ming remarked that the case, which was serious in nature, was not an isolated incident. The defendant exploited the workers by abusing his official capacity, and undermined the fairness of the society as well as the employer’s interest. The magistrate took a starting point of nine months’ imprisonment, and reduced the jail term to seven months having considered the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors. The defendant was also ordered to make a restitution of $21,800, equivalent to the amount of the bribes he accepted, to his then employer.The court heard that at the material time, JEM was the subcontractor of the baggage carousels installation works project at the SkyPier Terminal Ferry Transfer in the Hong Kong International Airport. JEM recruited workers mainly through referral from existing workers, and all workers were employed at a daily wage of $1,200. All JEM staff members were prohibited from soliciting or accepting advantages from others in relation to the company’s business. The defendant joined JEM in June 2022 as an installation worker of the project. He would also introduce workers to JEM.The defendant admitted that between July and November 2022, he had respectively solicited a bribe of $100 per working day from each of three fellow workers who joined JEM upon the defendant’s referral. The trio believed that if they did not pay the bribes, they would not be employed by JEM, and hence they acceded to the defendant’s solicitations. The defendant had accepted bribes from the trio totalling about $22,000, each ranging from $4,500 to $8,700.JEM had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Cyrus Chan.An ICAC spokesperson stresses that soliciting or accepting bribes for assisting others in employment is a serious bribery offence. The maximum penalty on conviction of the offence is a seven-year imprisonment and a fine of $500,000. The ICAC also urges construction workers not to tolerate corruption. Should they be asked to pay bribes in exchange for their employment, they should reject and report to the ICAC immediately through the 24-hour hotline (25 266 366). 08
Oct 2024Company proprietor charged by ICAC gets 22 months’ jail for $3.1m SME guaranteed loan fraudA company proprietor, charged by the ICAC, was today (October 8) sentenced to an imprisonment of 22 months at the District Court after admitting that he had deceived a bank into approving a loan of $3.1 million under the Special 100% Loan Guarantee (SLG) scheme by making false representations concerning the company’s contributions to the employees’ Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).Arri Wong Ka-nam, 55, proprietor of 24 Hr Locksmith, today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law. In sentencing, Deputy Judge Mr Cheng Lim-chi remarked that fraud was a serious offence. He took a starting point of an imprisonment of 36 months and reduced the jail term to 22 months having considered the defendant’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors.The court heard that in April 2020, as one of the relief measures of the government, HKMC Insurance Limited (HKMCI) launched the SLG under the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Financing Guarantee Scheme to ease SMEs’ cash flow pressure during the pandemic.Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (Standard Chartered Bank) was one of the participating lenders under the scheme. After confirming an application received was legitimate, the bank would forward the application to HKMCI for final review and approval to grant a guarantee.In September 2020, the defendant submitted an SLG loan application to Standard Chartered Bank, supported by false MPF statements which purportedly showed that 24 Hr Locksmith had made monthly contributions of $19,000 for its seven employees to an MPF trustee in Hong Kong.Standard Chartered Bank subsequently found that the loan application was suspicious and hence did not forward it to HKMCI for final approval. As a result, 24 Hr Locksmith had not been approved of the facility concerned.The ICAC investigation, which arose from a corruption complaint, revealed that 24 Hr Locksmith had never held any account with the MPF trustee nor made any MPF contributions for its employees.HKMCI, Standard Chartered Bank and the MPF trustee concerned had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Public Prosecutor Jason Lau, assisted by ICAC officer Kiki Chu. 07
Oct 2024Four charged by ICAC for conspiracy to defraud over $3.2m payroll of ‘ghost workers’ in supermarket chainThe ICAC today (October 7) charged a then-senior supervisor of a supermarket chain and three then contractor or casual workers for allegedly conspiring together to deceive the supermarket chain of wages totalling over $3.2 million in two years by using attendance records of “ghost workers”.The defendants are Lau Kin-pong, 42, former senior supervisor of PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited (PARKnSHOP); Tai Kin-man, 41, former assistant manager of Earnward Warehouse Limited (Earnward Warehouse); Wong Wai-fung, 25; and Wong Pak-kan, 26, both former casual workers of PARKnSHOP contractor. They jointly face one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Common Law. They were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday (October 9) for mention. The prosecution will apply for transferring the case to the District Court.Supermarket chain PARKnSHOP operated a product distribution center in Fo Tan, which was responsible for sorting and packaging online orders for distribution to customers. PARKnSHOP hired a contractor, Logistics Network Management Limited (Logistics Network), to provide casual workers for the distribution center, while Earnward Warehouse was responsible for supervising the operation of Logistics Network.At the material time, Lau Kin-pong was the senior supervisor of PARKnSHOP responsible for handling the administrative duties of the distribution center. Tai Kin-man was the assistant manager of Earnward Warehouse responsible for verifying casual workers’ attendance. Wong Wai-fung and Wong Pak-kan were casual workers hired by Logistics Network for recruiting and overseeing other causal workers at the distribution center. Logistics Network required all casual workers to clock their time cards when reporting duty and getting off work, and to sign on a daily attendance sheet to verify their on-duty time.The alleged offence took place between June 2019 and April 2021. The four defendants were alleged to have conspired with two other persons to defraud PARKnSHOP by falsely representing to the supermarket that 13 casual workers had worked at the distribution center for the working hours shown on their respective attendance records, inducing PARKnSHOP to release wages totalling over $3.2 million for the workers.The ICAC investigation, which arose from a corruption complaint, revealed that the defendants allegedly rented an office near the distribution center and purchased a clocking machine of the same model used in the distribution center. They allegedly fabricated the attendance records of the 13 “ghost workers” to deceive the distribution centre of wages and shared the fraudulent gains. Enquiries also revealed that the 13 casual workers concerned had not worked at the center at the material time and they had not received any wages. Their signatures on the daily attendance sheets were forged and they did not sign on any wage acknowledgements.PARKnSHOP has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 02
Oct 2024Ex-director of electronics assembly equipment manufacturer and merchant charged by ICAC for alleged $6m bribery dealThe ICAC today (October 2) charged a former director of an electronics assembly equipment manufacturer and a merchant for allegedly striking a deal with a shareholder of a technology firm to accept bribes totalling over $6 million from the latter for assisting the technology firm to be engaged as an electronics assembly equipment distributor.Lau Wai-leung, 49, former sales director of ASMPT Hong Kong Limited (formerly named as ASM Pacific (Hong Kong) Limited) (ASMPT); and Terry Wong Yuk-yan, 46, merchant, jointly face one count 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.The defendants were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 3) for mention. The prosecution will submit an application for transferring the case to the District Court for plea.ASMPT was a company under a group which was a manufacturer of electronics assembly equipment (collectively referred to as ASMPT). ASMPT engaged in sales of the group’s electronics assembly equipment products to customers in the Mainland and the Greater China Region. In addition to direct sales of the group’s products to customers, since 2019, ASMPT also engaged distributors to sell its products.The alleged offence took place between January 2019 and January 2023. At the material time, Lau was a sales director of ASMPT responsible for sales of ASMPT’s products and handling matters in relation to distributors. He left the company in January 2023. Meanwhile, Wong, a merchant, allegedly played the role of a middleman in the case.The charge alleges that the defendants conspired together for Lau to accept bribes totalling over $6 million from a shareholder of a technology firm for assisting the firm to be selected as a distributor of ASMPT.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint concerning ASMPT’s distributors. Enquiries revealed that Lau had allegedly reached the bribery agreement with the technology firm shareholder through Wong. According to the bribery agreement, the shareholder of the technology firm had allegedly offered Lau bribe money equivalent to 20 per cent of the firm’s sales profit as a reward. Inquiries revealed that since the technology firm was engaged as ASMPT’s distributor, the firm had sold over 1,000 sets of ASMPT’s electronics assembly equipment, involving bribes amounting to a total of over $6 million.ASMPT has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. ASMPT prohibited its staff members from soliciting or accepting advantages from others in relation to ASMPT’s business and affairs.