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Feb 2025Then-construction consultant of fast-food restaurant chain charged by ICAC with bribery for accepting watch worth of $80,000 from contractor coupleA then construction consultant of a fast-food restaurant chain was charged by the ICAC last Friday (February 21) for allegedly accepting a watch worth over $80,000 from contractor couple for showing favour to their renovation company. The trio were respectively charged with offering and accepting a bribe.Ling Mun-tong, 45, then construction consultant of MHK Restaurants Limited (MHK), faces one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).Two co-defendants of the case, Chow Chi-kuen, 48, engineering manager of Wardson Deco-Construction Limited (Wardson), and his wife Chan Chin-yu, 30, Director-cum-shareholder of Wardson, jointly face one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(b) of the POBO.The trio were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 25) for plea.MHK operated over 200 fast food restaurants in Hong Kong under the brand name of McDonald’s. Its business development department was responsible for renovation projects of the restaurants. At the material time, Ling was a construction consultant of the department. He was responsible for conducting tender exercise, including inviting approved contractors to submit tenders, submitting tender analysis and making recommendations, as well as overseeing progress of the projects. Wardson was one of the approved contractors of MHK.It is alleged that on December 2, 2023, Ling had accepted a watch at the value of over $80,000 from the Chows as a reward for showing favour to Wardson in relation to the affairs of MHK. Meanwhile, the Chows had allegedly offered the watch to Ling for him to show favour.Between September 2021 and December 2023, Wardson was awarded 34 renovation projects and minor works of MHK and 14 variation orders in the total cover of over $18 million.MHK had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.Ling was also implicated in a bank mortgage loan fraud case. He was charged with one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. The case was also scheduled for plea at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow. 21
Feb 2025Three months’ jail for two site team leaders charged by ICAC for accepting bribes of $300,000 from Third Runway Project’s workersTwo then site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC in separate cases, were both sentenced to three months’ imprisonment today (February 21) at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes totalling about $300,000 from over 30 workers over their employment, and perverting the course of public justice in the Commission’s investigation by instructing workers to falsely claimed that they had not paid bribes.The defendants were Liu Yin-man, 64, then leader of a team of riggers of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL); and Meng Zhijiang, 47, then leader of a team of carpenters of MEL.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Yu Chun-cheung highlighted the importance of the construction industry to Hong Kong, noting that the interests of even more workers would be affected by its “customary practice” if improper offerings of illegal rebates were not curbed. The magistrate took a starting point of six months’ imprisonment and reduced the jail terms of the defendants to three months after considering their guilty plea and assistance rendered to the prosecution by testifying against another site team leader implicated in the present case.The Magistrate also ordered Liu to pay a restitution of $15,500, equivalent to the amount of bribes he accepted, to his then employer – MEL.At the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Upon the referral of another site team leader Tang Kwok-leung, Liu and Meng were employed by MEL as site team leaders to respectively lead a team of workers at the project’s construction site. The duo had the authority to assign work to workers. MEL did not allow any employees to solicit or accept any advantages from other employees for assisting the latter to secure their employment with the company.Liu earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. On seven occasions between September 2020 and March 2021, Liu had collected bribes totalling about $230,000 from 29 riggers referred by him to join MEL on the instruction of Tang. Liu kept about $15,500 out of the bribes received and passed the remaining sum of over $210,000 to Tang according to their agreement.Meng earlier pleaded guilty to four charges – two of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages; one of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the POBO and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and one of conspiracy to do an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Upon the instruction of Tang, Meng had collected bribes totalling over $66,000 from two carpenters in his team and passed the same to Tang between August 2020 and April 2021. Meng himself had also paid bribes of $100 to $200 per working day to Tang for about six months.The court heard that Tang was arrested by the ICAC in March 2021. During ICAC’s investigation, Tang and Liu conspired together to instruct workers to make false statements to ICAC officers that no bribes had been paid by them to Tang or Meng.The ICAC investigation revealed that the workers worried about losing their jobs and paid bribes to Tang, Liu or Meng reluctantly.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Cody Chung and Cyrus Chan in the two cases.Tang, 50, was charged by the ICAC in a separate case. He admitted that he had accepted bribes totalling about $700,000 from about 80 workers, as well as his role in perverting the course of public justice. The case was adjourned to March 18 for sentence at the District Court.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the main contractor of the Third Runway Project, SAPR JV, and MEL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases. 12
Feb 2025Four charged by ICAC with $230,000 bribery over $25m renovation projects of two Japanese chain storesA then employee of a design consultancy and three others were charged by the ICAC today (February 12) for allegedly conspiring together for the employee to accept bribes of over $230,000 for assisting two works contractors to secure two renovation projects of Japanese chain stores involving project fees totalling over $25 million.The four defendants are Pian Pang Ka-shin, 41, then marketing executive of K&C Creation Limited (KCL); Li Po-wah, 34, director cum shareholder of RNK Design and Engineering Company Limited (RNK); Pang Wai-yin, 50, then site supervisor of RNK; and Yung Chor-chi, 46, operator of Flaming Engineering Company Limited (FEL).They jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to sections 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. The case is set for plea at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 13).KCL is a design consultancy. In 2019, it was awarded two renovation projects respectively concerning a branch of drugstore chain “Tokyo Lifestyle” in Kowloon and the store of supermarket chain “Donki Japan” in Macau.At the material time, Pang Ka-shin was a marketing executive of KCL responsible for co-ordinating contractors and arranging tender exercises. For the two renovation projects concerned, she was responsible for submitting quotations and tenders to RNK or Donki for selection. RNK and FEL were both works contractors respectively set up by Li in Hong Kong and Yung in Macau.The charge alleges that between June 2019 and January 2022, the four defendants had conspired together for Pang Ka-shin to accept bribes of over $230,000 from the three co-defendants for assisting the trio to secure the two renovation projects managed by KCL. Renovation fees of the two projects amounted to over $25 million in total.RNK and Donki rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 11
Feb 2025Main culprit in $52m dummy agents commissions fraud case charged by ICAC jailed for 46 monthsAn ICAC corruption investigation earlier revealed a dummy insurance agents’ scheme where individuals had conspired together to defraud two insurers of commissions totalling about $52 million by making false representations about the handling agents of 478 insurance policies and to launder crime proceeds. A then branch manager of an insurer, who recruited various individuals to take part in the plot, was today (February 11) sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment at the District Court while 10 dummy insurance agents received jail terms ranging from 11 to 22 months.Lo Yin-wa, 32, then branch manager of FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (FWD), was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. She earlier pleaded guilty to 20 charges – two of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law; and 18 of conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (conspiracy to launder crime proceeds), contrary to section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and section 159A(1) the Crimes Ordinance.Ten co-defendants, who admitted various counts of the above charges, received jail terms ranging from 11 to 22 months. The defendants, aged between 25 and 61, are six insurance agents of Lo’s team in FWD – Chan Ka-yu, Lam Hiu-tung, Lam Wai-kit, Wong Bryant, Zhou Yutian and Cheung Ho-cheung; the then unit manager of Sun Life Hong Kong Limited (Sun Life HK), Kwok Yun-fong, and her three downline agents Tang Ho-lun, To Wai-to and Wong Lin-yan.In sentencing, Judge Mr Josiah Lam Wai-kuen remarked that Lo persuaded various individuals to pose as dummy insurance agents and used their bank accounts to deal with the incomes in relation to the insurance policies concerned. She played a pivotal role in materialising the present case which lasted 51 months.Sentencing of two co-defendants who also pleaded guilty to their charges was adjourned to a later date after rendering assistance to the prosecution. Four other then insurance agents pleading not guilty to their charges will face trial at the District Court on May 12.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint against dummy insurance agents. Enquiries revealed that between February 2016 and November 2020, Lo had recruited co-defendants in the case and others to join either Sun Life HK or FWD. Lo told some of the recruited persons that they were dummy insurance agents and were not required to source any clients after joining the insurers.The ICAC investigation revealed that Lo had conspired with other FWD insurance agents to falsely represent that the FWD insurance agents recruited by Lo were the handling agents of 272 insurance policy applications. In addition, Lo had conspired with Kwok Yun-fong and other Sun Life HK insurance agents to falsely represent that the Sun Life HK insurance agents recruited by Lo were the handling agents of 206 insurance policy applications.As a result, Sun Life HK and FWD approved the above 478 applications and released commissions, incentives, bonuses and allowances totalling over $22 million to Lo’s team, and over $29 million to Kwok Yun-fong’s team.The ICAC also enquiries revealed that the above 478 insurance policy applications mostly involved high commission rate insurance products. In the end, most of the insurance policies concerned lapsed after subsequent premiums were not paid.Lo had requested the dummy insurance agents to return most of the payments to her after receiving commissions and other payments from the insurers. Individuals involved in the case then laundered crime proceeds totalling about $47 million in relation to the scheme through 23 bank accounts, which in fact were controlled by Lo, to receive the commissions and other payments concerned, the court heard.FWD and Sun Life HK rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officers Nick Lai and Chase Wong. 07
Feb 2025Certified public accountant charged by ICAC gets five years’ jail for stealing USD1.25mAn ICAC corruption investigation earlier revealed that a certified public accountant had stolen over USD1.25 million in total from two companies when he served as a trustee handling their business and financial affairs. The defendant, convicted of theft after trial, was today (February 7) sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at the District Court.Cheung Hing-chik, 76, was earlier found guilty of two counts of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.In sentencing, Deputy District Judge Casewell remarked that the acts of the defendant constituted a serious breach of trust. Earlier in convicting the defendant, the judge reprimanded him for abusing his position as a trustee. The defendant had acted dishonestly and fraudulently, which was a clear breach of his fiduciary duties.The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was entrusted by a couple residing outside Hong Kong to handle business and financial affairs of two companies, which respectively engaged in arts trading and securities investment. The defendant was the sole authorised signatory for bank accounts of the two companies but he was not permitted to dispose of any funds or securities of the companies without the couple’s consent. He was also required to provide the relevant bank passbook to the couple for regular check.The ICAC investigation revealed that between February 2016 and January 2020, the defendant had transferred over USD1.25 million in the bank accounts of the two companies to his personal bank accounts on over 50 occasions without the consent of the couple.In order to conceal his embezzlement, the defendant had falsely represented to the couple that he had lost the bank passbook and provided multiple bank account transaction records containing false information to them for checking. ICAC enquiries also revealed that the defendant had sold the securities held by one of the companies without the consent of the couple and misappropriated the proceeds.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Steven Liu, assisted by ICAC officer Carla Yeung.The ICAC has been collaborating with various professional bodies in the accounting industry to provide integrity training to accounting professionals, reminding them to uphold professional ethics and the highest standard of integrity so as to protect the clients’ and the public interest. Last year, the ICAC co-hosted a professional anti-corruption course with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants for the first time to enhance the professional ethics standards of accountants. Accounting professionals can visit the website of the Hong Kong Business Ethics Development Centre of the ICAC for more information about the corruption prevention resources related to the industry.
Feb 2025Then-construction consultant of fast-food restaurant chain charged by ICAC with bribery for accepting watch worth of $80,000 from contractor coupleA then construction consultant of a fast-food restaurant chain was charged by the ICAC last Friday (February 21) for allegedly accepting a watch worth over $80,000 from contractor couple for showing favour to their renovation company. The trio were respectively charged with offering and accepting a bribe.Ling Mun-tong, 45, then construction consultant of MHK Restaurants Limited (MHK), faces one count of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO).Two co-defendants of the case, Chow Chi-kuen, 48, engineering manager of Wardson Deco-Construction Limited (Wardson), and his wife Chan Chin-yu, 30, Director-cum-shareholder of Wardson, jointly face one count of offering an advantage to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(b) of the POBO.The trio were released on ICAC bail, pending their appearance at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 25) for plea.MHK operated over 200 fast food restaurants in Hong Kong under the brand name of McDonald’s. Its business development department was responsible for renovation projects of the restaurants. At the material time, Ling was a construction consultant of the department. He was responsible for conducting tender exercise, including inviting approved contractors to submit tenders, submitting tender analysis and making recommendations, as well as overseeing progress of the projects. Wardson was one of the approved contractors of MHK.It is alleged that on December 2, 2023, Ling had accepted a watch at the value of over $80,000 from the Chows as a reward for showing favour to Wardson in relation to the affairs of MHK. Meanwhile, the Chows had allegedly offered the watch to Ling for him to show favour.Between September 2021 and December 2023, Wardson was awarded 34 renovation projects and minor works of MHK and 14 variation orders in the total cover of over $18 million.MHK had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.Ling was also implicated in a bank mortgage loan fraud case. He was charged with one count of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance. The case was also scheduled for plea at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow. 21
Feb 2025Three months’ jail for two site team leaders charged by ICAC for accepting bribes of $300,000 from Third Runway Project’s workersTwo then site team leaders of a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project of the Hong Kong International Airport (Third Runway Project), charged by the ICAC in separate cases, were both sentenced to three months’ imprisonment today (February 21) at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for accepting bribes totalling about $300,000 from over 30 workers over their employment, and perverting the course of public justice in the Commission’s investigation by instructing workers to falsely claimed that they had not paid bribes.The defendants were Liu Yin-man, 64, then leader of a team of riggers of MLife Engineering Limited (MEL); and Meng Zhijiang, 47, then leader of a team of carpenters of MEL.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Peter Yu Chun-cheung highlighted the importance of the construction industry to Hong Kong, noting that the interests of even more workers would be affected by its “customary practice” if improper offerings of illegal rebates were not curbed. The magistrate took a starting point of six months’ imprisonment and reduced the jail terms of the defendants to three months after considering their guilty plea and assistance rendered to the prosecution by testifying against another site team leader implicated in the present case.The Magistrate also ordered Liu to pay a restitution of $15,500, equivalent to the amount of bribes he accepted, to his then employer – MEL.At the material time, MEL was a sub-contractor of the Third Runway Project responsible for recruiting construction workers to conduct various works. Upon the referral of another site team leader Tang Kwok-leung, Liu and Meng were employed by MEL as site team leaders to respectively lead a team of workers at the project’s construction site. The duo had the authority to assign work to workers. MEL did not allow any employees to solicit or accept any advantages from other employees for assisting the latter to secure their employment with the company.Liu earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO) and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. On seven occasions between September 2020 and March 2021, Liu had collected bribes totalling about $230,000 from 29 riggers referred by him to join MEL on the instruction of Tang. Liu kept about $15,500 out of the bribes received and passed the remaining sum of over $210,000 to Tang according to their agreement.Meng earlier pleaded guilty to four charges – two of conspiracy for agents to accept advantages; one of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to section 9(2)(a) of the POBO and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance; and one of conspiracy to do an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.Upon the instruction of Tang, Meng had collected bribes totalling over $66,000 from two carpenters in his team and passed the same to Tang between August 2020 and April 2021. Meng himself had also paid bribes of $100 to $200 per working day to Tang for about six months.The court heard that Tang was arrested by the ICAC in March 2021. During ICAC’s investigation, Tang and Liu conspired together to instruct workers to make false statements to ICAC officers that no bribes had been paid by them to Tang or Meng.The ICAC investigation revealed that the workers worried about losing their jobs and paid bribes to Tang, Liu or Meng reluctantly.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officers Cody Chung and Cyrus Chan in the two cases.Tang, 50, was charged by the ICAC in a separate case. He admitted that he had accepted bribes totalling about $700,000 from about 80 workers, as well as his role in perverting the course of public justice. The case was adjourned to March 18 for sentence at the District Court.The Airport Authority Hong Kong, the main contractor of the Third Runway Project, SAPR JV, and MEL rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the cases. 12
Feb 2025Four charged by ICAC with $230,000 bribery over $25m renovation projects of two Japanese chain storesA then employee of a design consultancy and three others were charged by the ICAC today (February 12) for allegedly conspiring together for the employee to accept bribes of over $230,000 for assisting two works contractors to secure two renovation projects of Japanese chain stores involving project fees totalling over $25 million.The four defendants are Pian Pang Ka-shin, 41, then marketing executive of K&C Creation Limited (KCL); Li Po-wah, 34, director cum shareholder of RNK Design and Engineering Company Limited (RNK); Pang Wai-yin, 50, then site supervisor of RNK; and Yung Chor-chi, 46, operator of Flaming Engineering Company Limited (FEL).They jointly face one count of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage, contrary to sections 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance. The case is set for plea at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 13).KCL is a design consultancy. In 2019, it was awarded two renovation projects respectively concerning a branch of drugstore chain “Tokyo Lifestyle” in Kowloon and the store of supermarket chain “Donki Japan” in Macau.At the material time, Pang Ka-shin was a marketing executive of KCL responsible for co-ordinating contractors and arranging tender exercises. For the two renovation projects concerned, she was responsible for submitting quotations and tenders to RNK or Donki for selection. RNK and FEL were both works contractors respectively set up by Li in Hong Kong and Yung in Macau.The charge alleges that between June 2019 and January 2022, the four defendants had conspired together for Pang Ka-shin to accept bribes of over $230,000 from the three co-defendants for assisting the trio to secure the two renovation projects managed by KCL. Renovation fees of the two projects amounted to over $25 million in total.RNK and Donki rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case. 11
Feb 2025Main culprit in $52m dummy agents commissions fraud case charged by ICAC jailed for 46 monthsAn ICAC corruption investigation earlier revealed a dummy insurance agents’ scheme where individuals had conspired together to defraud two insurers of commissions totalling about $52 million by making false representations about the handling agents of 478 insurance policies and to launder crime proceeds. A then branch manager of an insurer, who recruited various individuals to take part in the plot, was today (February 11) sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment at the District Court while 10 dummy insurance agents received jail terms ranging from 11 to 22 months.Lo Yin-wa, 32, then branch manager of FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (FWD), was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. She earlier pleaded guilty to 20 charges – two of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law; and 18 of conspiracy to deal with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence (conspiracy to launder crime proceeds), contrary to section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and section 159A(1) the Crimes Ordinance.Ten co-defendants, who admitted various counts of the above charges, received jail terms ranging from 11 to 22 months. The defendants, aged between 25 and 61, are six insurance agents of Lo’s team in FWD – Chan Ka-yu, Lam Hiu-tung, Lam Wai-kit, Wong Bryant, Zhou Yutian and Cheung Ho-cheung; the then unit manager of Sun Life Hong Kong Limited (Sun Life HK), Kwok Yun-fong, and her three downline agents Tang Ho-lun, To Wai-to and Wong Lin-yan.In sentencing, Judge Mr Josiah Lam Wai-kuen remarked that Lo persuaded various individuals to pose as dummy insurance agents and used their bank accounts to deal with the incomes in relation to the insurance policies concerned. She played a pivotal role in materialising the present case which lasted 51 months.Sentencing of two co-defendants who also pleaded guilty to their charges was adjourned to a later date after rendering assistance to the prosecution. Four other then insurance agents pleading not guilty to their charges will face trial at the District Court on May 12.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint against dummy insurance agents. Enquiries revealed that between February 2016 and November 2020, Lo had recruited co-defendants in the case and others to join either Sun Life HK or FWD. Lo told some of the recruited persons that they were dummy insurance agents and were not required to source any clients after joining the insurers.The ICAC investigation revealed that Lo had conspired with other FWD insurance agents to falsely represent that the FWD insurance agents recruited by Lo were the handling agents of 272 insurance policy applications. In addition, Lo had conspired with Kwok Yun-fong and other Sun Life HK insurance agents to falsely represent that the Sun Life HK insurance agents recruited by Lo were the handling agents of 206 insurance policy applications.As a result, Sun Life HK and FWD approved the above 478 applications and released commissions, incentives, bonuses and allowances totalling over $22 million to Lo’s team, and over $29 million to Kwok Yun-fong’s team.The ICAC also enquiries revealed that the above 478 insurance policy applications mostly involved high commission rate insurance products. In the end, most of the insurance policies concerned lapsed after subsequent premiums were not paid.Lo had requested the dummy insurance agents to return most of the payments to her after receiving commissions and other payments from the insurers. Individuals involved in the case then laundered crime proceeds totalling about $47 million in relation to the scheme through 23 bank accounts, which in fact were controlled by Lo, to receive the commissions and other payments concerned, the court heard.FWD and Sun Life HK rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Wong Hay-yiu, assisted by ICAC officers Nick Lai and Chase Wong. 07
Feb 2025Certified public accountant charged by ICAC gets five years’ jail for stealing USD1.25mAn ICAC corruption investigation earlier revealed that a certified public accountant had stolen over USD1.25 million in total from two companies when he served as a trustee handling their business and financial affairs. The defendant, convicted of theft after trial, was today (February 7) sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at the District Court.Cheung Hing-chik, 76, was earlier found guilty of two counts of theft, contrary to Section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.In sentencing, Deputy District Judge Casewell remarked that the acts of the defendant constituted a serious breach of trust. Earlier in convicting the defendant, the judge reprimanded him for abusing his position as a trustee. The defendant had acted dishonestly and fraudulently, which was a clear breach of his fiduciary duties.The court heard that at the material time, the defendant was entrusted by a couple residing outside Hong Kong to handle business and financial affairs of two companies, which respectively engaged in arts trading and securities investment. The defendant was the sole authorised signatory for bank accounts of the two companies but he was not permitted to dispose of any funds or securities of the companies without the couple’s consent. He was also required to provide the relevant bank passbook to the couple for regular check.The ICAC investigation revealed that between February 2016 and January 2020, the defendant had transferred over USD1.25 million in the bank accounts of the two companies to his personal bank accounts on over 50 occasions without the consent of the couple.In order to conceal his embezzlement, the defendant had falsely represented to the couple that he had lost the bank passbook and provided multiple bank account transaction records containing false information to them for checking. ICAC enquiries also revealed that the defendant had sold the securities held by one of the companies without the consent of the couple and misappropriated the proceeds.The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Steven Liu, assisted by ICAC officer Carla Yeung.The ICAC has been collaborating with various professional bodies in the accounting industry to provide integrity training to accounting professionals, reminding them to uphold professional ethics and the highest standard of integrity so as to protect the clients’ and the public interest. Last year, the ICAC co-hosted a professional anti-corruption course with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants for the first time to enhance the professional ethics standards of accountants. Accounting professionals can visit the website of the Hong Kong Business Ethics Development Centre of the ICAC for more information about the corruption prevention resources related to the industry.