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Dec 2025Property agent charged by ICAC guilty of bribery over divulging property vendors informationA property agent charged by the ICAC was today (December 31) convicted at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts of bribery for accepting $32,500 in bribes for divulging information of property vendors to two directors of another property agency for them to promote services of the property agency. The two directors had earlier entered guilty pleas.Kong Ka-shing, 27, property agent of Midland Realty International Limited (Midland Realty), was 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), earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage.Deputy Magistrate Miss Li Cheuk-wai adjourned the case to January 15, 2026 for sentence, pending background reports of all defendants. The trio were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.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. 04
Dec 2025Property officer charged by ICAC sentenced to one year in prison for fraud over $670,000 private estate maintenance worksA property officer of a property management company, charged by the ICAC, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment after admitting at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (December 4) that he had secured various minor works of a residential estate worth totalling about $670,000 by concealing his conflicting interest.Lui Kien-fat, 71, former property officer of Kong Shum Union Property Management Company Limited (Kong Shum, now renamed as Kong Shum Smart Management Services Limited (Kong Shum Smart Management Services), pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Mr David Cheung Chi-wai remarked that the case was serious in nature and the defendant had breached the trust placed in him. Holding a key position in the residential estate, the defendant had abused his authority for personal gain, defrauding the Incorporated Owners (IO) of the residential estate to secure works contracts.At the material time, Kong Shum provided property management services to Sun Sing Centre, a private residential estate in Shau Kei Wan. The defendant was employed by Kong Shum and posted to Sun Sing Centre to assist its IO in handling procurement matters and overseeing contractors. Kong Shum required its employees to declare conflict of interest in relation to contractors.The court heard that the defendant had concealed from the IO of Sun Sing Centre that he was the significant controller of New Century (EMC) Limited (New Century), and induced the IO to award contracts and pay service fees totalling over $290,000 to New Century for installation of an energy-efficient lighting system.The defendant had also concealed from Sun Sing Centre’s IO that he had financial interests in Kwan Kee Engineering Co. (Kwan Kee) to deceive the IO into settling works payments totalling about $380,000 to Kwan Kee for 27 minor maintenance works awarded to it.ICAC enquiries revealed that New Century and Kwan Kee, both set up by the defendant, were directly or indirectly controlled by him at the material time.The IO of Sun Sing Centre and Kong Shum Smart Management Services rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Dominic Sung. 28
Nov 2025Ex-senior manager of developer and subcontractors charged by ICAC jailed for six to 30 months for bribery over leakage of tendering documentsA senior construction manager of a developer and five directors and staff of four subcontractors, charged by the ICAC, were today (November 28) sentenced to jail terms ranging from six to 24 months at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts for bribery. The manager had accepted advantages worth about $180,000, including cash, gifts, etc., provided by the co-defendants for disclosing internal documents and information to assist the latter in the tendering exercises for various work packages of 10 construction projects.Constant So Shun-ching, 57, then senior construction manager of Henderson Land Development Company Limited (Henderson Land), was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay Henderson Land a restitution of about $180,000, equivalent to the amount of bribes and other advantages he received in the present case.Mak Hung-cho, 69, shareholder-cum-director of Lee Shing Masonry Engineering Limited (Lee Shing), received a jail term of 16 months.The remaining four co-defendants, namely Zheng Weicheng, 43, shareholder-cum-director of King Fung Development & Construction Company Limited (King Fung); Chung Yiu-hon, 37, staff member of King Fung; Chow Kit, 50, director of Trigon Building Materials Limited (Trigon); and Chan Lok-kau, 69, consultant of Kinway Engineering Limited (Kinway), were jailed for six to 10 months respectively.The six defendants were earlier found guilty after trial of a total of four counts of conspiracy for agent to accept advantages, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jeffrey Sze Cho-yiu remarked that the scam had spanned over a long period by means of corruption in exchange for the developer’s confidential information relating to large-scale projects. All defendants warranted a custodial sentence so that the court could convey a correct message to the public: the society did not tolerate corruption. The magistrate added that the offences of the present case were highly serious in nature since the defendants’ illegal acts had seriously undermined Henderson Land’s reputation, resulting a very great risk of potential financial loss.The court heard that at the material time, So was a senior construction manager of Henderson Land. He was responsible for overseeing the works conducted by subcontractors, and providing assistance in tendering exercises of work packages. Lee Shing, King Fung, Trigon and Kinway were registered subcontractors of Henderson Land. They were respectively responsible for plastering, concrete formwork and structure, false ceiling and miscellaneous works.The offences took place between June 2014 and July 2021. So had accepted from the five co-defendants various advantages worth totalling about $180,000 for assisting the four subcontractors – Lee Shing, King Fung, Trigon and Kinway – in the tendering exercises of Henderson Land or its subsidiaries.The advantages which So had accepted were $100,000 in cash, four smartphones worth totalling over $46,000, a birthday banquet worth over $9,000, hotel accommodation in Macao worth about $5,700 and furniture worth $18,000.The ICAC investigation revealed that So had disclosed to the five co-defendants the internal tender documents of Henderson Land in relation to various work packages of 10 residential as well as industrial and commercial construction projects. Such documents contained information including Henderson Land’s estimated cost for the relevant works as well as that concerning tenderers which had submitted the lowest bids.Henderson Land rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Victor Chiu, assisted by ICAC officer Vincent Ching. 24
Nov 2025Then employee of HKEX Listing Division charged by ICAC for alleged bribes-for-confidential-information-disclosure, two others face perversion chargeA then Assistant Vice President of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) was charged by the ICAC last Friday (November 21) for allegedly accepting bribes of $150,000 for disclosing confidential information of listed companies. Two other individuals were charged with perversion in respect of a criminal investigation by the ICAC and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) into suspected insider dealings.Tam Cheuk-yin, 38, former Assistant Vice President, IT Team of the Listing Division of the HKEX, faces two counts of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.Co-defendants Alan Chau Tsz-kong, 38; and Tang Hing-yu, 39, jointly face one count of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law.The trio were released on ICAC bail while their case is set for mention at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (November 25). The prosecution will apply to transfer the case to the District Court for plea.Earlier, the ICAC received a corruption complaint in respect of insider dealings referred by the SFC. The two agencies launched a joint investigation. Investigation by the ICAC revealed that at the material time, Tam, due to his operational need, was authorised to access emails of the HKEX containing confidential information and documents, some of which concerned sensitive information of listed companies. The information was accessible only to personnel of the Listing Division for discharging their official duties, and was not allowed to be disclosed to unauthorised parties.In June and December 2024, Tam allegedly accepted two bribe payments totalling $150,000 from Chau for disclosing to the latter price-related confidential information that he illegally retrieved from the email system of the HKEX.It is alleged that on March 4, 2025, Chau and Tang did a series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice in a criminal investigation against Chau relating to allegations of insider dealings. Chau is suspected of instructing Tang to safekeep cash in the sum of about $3.9 million, two watches worth a total of over $1 million and a mobile phone, and to tamper with the car camera recording of Tang to frustrate the investigation.As the bribery investigation is ongoing, the ICAC would not rule out taking further enforcement actions or prosecuting other implicated individuals.The ICAC and the SFC have been working closely into the case while the HKEX has been fully assisting the two agencies.The ICAC attaches great importance to upholding the integrity of Hong Kong’s financial market and takes resolute enforcement actions to combat corrupt practices and misconduct which might undermine the fair operation of the market. In view of the present case, the ICAC has assisted the HKEX to review and enhance its relevant systems to avoid the recurrence of such incidents. 21
Nov 2025Last batch of defendants charged by ICAC in $52m dummy agents commissions fraud case jailedA corruption investigation by the ICAC earlier revealed that a branch manager of an insurer had conspired with several dummy insurance agents recruited by her to deceive two insurers into releasing commissions in the total sum of about $52 million by making false representations that the dummy insurance agents had handled 478 insurance policies. While the main culprit and 10 dummy insurance agents were earlier sentenced to jail terms up to 46 months following their guilty pleas, the last batch of six defendants were today (November 21) sentenced to jail terms ranging from 12 to 21 months at the District Court.The six defendants, aged between 25 and 39, were purported insurance agents of FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (FWD) and Sun Life Hong Kong Limited (Sun Life HK) at the material time. Leung Tsz-wing, Mo Wing-han and Woo Kin-leung had entered guilty pleas, while Lo Nga-wing, Ngan Tsz-ting and Kong Tsz-ying were convicted after trial.In sentencing, Judge Mr Josiah Lam Wai-kuen reprimanded the defendants for failing to uphold the professional conduct expected of insurance agents, being lured by the main culprit to commit the offences of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to money laundering in the present case.A total of 17 defendants were charged in the present case with 20 offences – 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.The main culprit in the present case, Lo Yin-wa, then branch manager of FWD, had earlier pleaded guilty to the 20 charges and was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. Ten other dummy insurance agents, who had entered guilty pleas, received jail terms ranging from 11 to 22 months.The ICAC has always attached high importance to upholding integrity in the insurance sector. The Commission will continue to collaborate with the industry to provide integrity training for insurance practitioners, helping them understand common corruption risks. The ICAC has also developed a Corruption Prevention Guide for Insurance Companies to assist insurance companies in strengthening their corruption prevention capabilities in key operational areas, fostering a probity culture in the industry.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint against dummy insurance agents. Enquiries revealed that between February 2016 and November 2020, Lo Yin-wa had recruited co-defendants in the case and others to join Sun Life HK or FWD. Lo Yin-wa 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 Yin-wa had conspired with other FWD insurance agents to falsely represent that the FWD insurance agents recruited by Lo Yin-wa were the handling agents of 272 insurance policy applications. In addition, Lo Yin-wa had conspired with then unit manager of Sun Life HK Kwok Yun-fong and other Sun Life HK insurance agents to falsely represent that the Sun Life HK insurance agents recruited by Lo Yin-wa 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 Yin-wa’s team, and over $29 million to Kwok Yun-fong’s team.Enquiries also 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 Yin-wa 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 Yin-wa, 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 Franco Kuan, assisted by ICAC officer William Leung.
Dec 2025Property agent charged by ICAC guilty of bribery over divulging property vendors informationA property agent charged by the ICAC was today (December 31) convicted at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts of bribery for accepting $32,500 in bribes for divulging information of property vendors to two directors of another property agency for them to promote services of the property agency. The two directors had earlier entered guilty pleas.Kong Ka-shing, 27, property agent of Midland Realty International Limited (Midland Realty), was 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), earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy for an agent to accept an advantage.Deputy Magistrate Miss Li Cheuk-wai adjourned the case to January 15, 2026 for sentence, pending background reports of all defendants. The trio were remanded in the custody of the Correctional Services Department.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. 04
Dec 2025Property officer charged by ICAC sentenced to one year in prison for fraud over $670,000 private estate maintenance worksA property officer of a property management company, charged by the ICAC, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment after admitting at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (December 4) that he had secured various minor works of a residential estate worth totalling about $670,000 by concealing his conflicting interest.Lui Kien-fat, 71, former property officer of Kong Shum Union Property Management Company Limited (Kong Shum, now renamed as Kong Shum Smart Management Services Limited (Kong Shum Smart Management Services), pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, contrary to section 16A of the Theft Ordinance.In sentencing, Principal Magistrate Mr David Cheung Chi-wai remarked that the case was serious in nature and the defendant had breached the trust placed in him. Holding a key position in the residential estate, the defendant had abused his authority for personal gain, defrauding the Incorporated Owners (IO) of the residential estate to secure works contracts.At the material time, Kong Shum provided property management services to Sun Sing Centre, a private residential estate in Shau Kei Wan. The defendant was employed by Kong Shum and posted to Sun Sing Centre to assist its IO in handling procurement matters and overseeing contractors. Kong Shum required its employees to declare conflict of interest in relation to contractors.The court heard that the defendant had concealed from the IO of Sun Sing Centre that he was the significant controller of New Century (EMC) Limited (New Century), and induced the IO to award contracts and pay service fees totalling over $290,000 to New Century for installation of an energy-efficient lighting system.The defendant had also concealed from Sun Sing Centre’s IO that he had financial interests in Kwan Kee Engineering Co. (Kwan Kee) to deceive the IO into settling works payments totalling about $380,000 to Kwan Kee for 27 minor maintenance works awarded to it.ICAC enquiries revealed that New Century and Kwan Kee, both set up by the defendant, were directly or indirectly controlled by him at the material time.The IO of Sun Sing Centre and Kong Shum Smart Management Services rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Dominic Sung. 28
Nov 2025Ex-senior manager of developer and subcontractors charged by ICAC jailed for six to 30 months for bribery over leakage of tendering documentsA senior construction manager of a developer and five directors and staff of four subcontractors, charged by the ICAC, were today (November 28) sentenced to jail terms ranging from six to 24 months at the Shatin Magistrates’ Courts for bribery. The manager had accepted advantages worth about $180,000, including cash, gifts, etc., provided by the co-defendants for disclosing internal documents and information to assist the latter in the tendering exercises for various work packages of 10 construction projects.Constant So Shun-ching, 57, then senior construction manager of Henderson Land Development Company Limited (Henderson Land), was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay Henderson Land a restitution of about $180,000, equivalent to the amount of bribes and other advantages he received in the present case.Mak Hung-cho, 69, shareholder-cum-director of Lee Shing Masonry Engineering Limited (Lee Shing), received a jail term of 16 months.The remaining four co-defendants, namely Zheng Weicheng, 43, shareholder-cum-director of King Fung Development & Construction Company Limited (King Fung); Chung Yiu-hon, 37, staff member of King Fung; Chow Kit, 50, director of Trigon Building Materials Limited (Trigon); and Chan Lok-kau, 69, consultant of Kinway Engineering Limited (Kinway), were jailed for six to 10 months respectively.The six defendants were earlier found guilty after trial of a total of four counts of conspiracy for agent to accept advantages, contrary to section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.In sentencing, Magistrate Mr Jeffrey Sze Cho-yiu remarked that the scam had spanned over a long period by means of corruption in exchange for the developer’s confidential information relating to large-scale projects. All defendants warranted a custodial sentence so that the court could convey a correct message to the public: the society did not tolerate corruption. The magistrate added that the offences of the present case were highly serious in nature since the defendants’ illegal acts had seriously undermined Henderson Land’s reputation, resulting a very great risk of potential financial loss.The court heard that at the material time, So was a senior construction manager of Henderson Land. He was responsible for overseeing the works conducted by subcontractors, and providing assistance in tendering exercises of work packages. Lee Shing, King Fung, Trigon and Kinway were registered subcontractors of Henderson Land. They were respectively responsible for plastering, concrete formwork and structure, false ceiling and miscellaneous works.The offences took place between June 2014 and July 2021. So had accepted from the five co-defendants various advantages worth totalling about $180,000 for assisting the four subcontractors – Lee Shing, King Fung, Trigon and Kinway – in the tendering exercises of Henderson Land or its subsidiaries.The advantages which So had accepted were $100,000 in cash, four smartphones worth totalling over $46,000, a birthday banquet worth over $9,000, hotel accommodation in Macao worth about $5,700 and furniture worth $18,000.The ICAC investigation revealed that So had disclosed to the five co-defendants the internal tender documents of Henderson Land in relation to various work packages of 10 residential as well as industrial and commercial construction projects. Such documents contained information including Henderson Land’s estimated cost for the relevant works as well as that concerning tenderers which had submitted the lowest bids.Henderson Land rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.The prosecution was today represented by prosecuting counsel Victor Chiu, assisted by ICAC officer Vincent Ching. 24
Nov 2025Then employee of HKEX Listing Division charged by ICAC for alleged bribes-for-confidential-information-disclosure, two others face perversion chargeA then Assistant Vice President of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) was charged by the ICAC last Friday (November 21) for allegedly accepting bribes of $150,000 for disclosing confidential information of listed companies. Two other individuals were charged with perversion in respect of a criminal investigation by the ICAC and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) into suspected insider dealings.Tam Cheuk-yin, 38, former Assistant Vice President, IT Team of the Listing Division of the HKEX, faces two counts of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.Co-defendants Alan Chau Tsz-kong, 38; and Tang Hing-yu, 39, jointly face one count of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to the Common Law.The trio were released on ICAC bail while their case is set for mention at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (November 25). The prosecution will apply to transfer the case to the District Court for plea.Earlier, the ICAC received a corruption complaint in respect of insider dealings referred by the SFC. The two agencies launched a joint investigation. Investigation by the ICAC revealed that at the material time, Tam, due to his operational need, was authorised to access emails of the HKEX containing confidential information and documents, some of which concerned sensitive information of listed companies. The information was accessible only to personnel of the Listing Division for discharging their official duties, and was not allowed to be disclosed to unauthorised parties.In June and December 2024, Tam allegedly accepted two bribe payments totalling $150,000 from Chau for disclosing to the latter price-related confidential information that he illegally retrieved from the email system of the HKEX.It is alleged that on March 4, 2025, Chau and Tang did a series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice in a criminal investigation against Chau relating to allegations of insider dealings. Chau is suspected of instructing Tang to safekeep cash in the sum of about $3.9 million, two watches worth a total of over $1 million and a mobile phone, and to tamper with the car camera recording of Tang to frustrate the investigation.As the bribery investigation is ongoing, the ICAC would not rule out taking further enforcement actions or prosecuting other implicated individuals.The ICAC and the SFC have been working closely into the case while the HKEX has been fully assisting the two agencies.The ICAC attaches great importance to upholding the integrity of Hong Kong’s financial market and takes resolute enforcement actions to combat corrupt practices and misconduct which might undermine the fair operation of the market. In view of the present case, the ICAC has assisted the HKEX to review and enhance its relevant systems to avoid the recurrence of such incidents. 21
Nov 2025Last batch of defendants charged by ICAC in $52m dummy agents commissions fraud case jailedA corruption investigation by the ICAC earlier revealed that a branch manager of an insurer had conspired with several dummy insurance agents recruited by her to deceive two insurers into releasing commissions in the total sum of about $52 million by making false representations that the dummy insurance agents had handled 478 insurance policies. While the main culprit and 10 dummy insurance agents were earlier sentenced to jail terms up to 46 months following their guilty pleas, the last batch of six defendants were today (November 21) sentenced to jail terms ranging from 12 to 21 months at the District Court.The six defendants, aged between 25 and 39, were purported insurance agents of FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited (FWD) and Sun Life Hong Kong Limited (Sun Life HK) at the material time. Leung Tsz-wing, Mo Wing-han and Woo Kin-leung had entered guilty pleas, while Lo Nga-wing, Ngan Tsz-ting and Kong Tsz-ying were convicted after trial.In sentencing, Judge Mr Josiah Lam Wai-kuen reprimanded the defendants for failing to uphold the professional conduct expected of insurance agents, being lured by the main culprit to commit the offences of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to money laundering in the present case.A total of 17 defendants were charged in the present case with 20 offences – 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.The main culprit in the present case, Lo Yin-wa, then branch manager of FWD, had earlier pleaded guilty to the 20 charges and was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment. Ten other dummy insurance agents, who had entered guilty pleas, received jail terms ranging from 11 to 22 months.The ICAC has always attached high importance to upholding integrity in the insurance sector. The Commission will continue to collaborate with the industry to provide integrity training for insurance practitioners, helping them understand common corruption risks. The ICAC has also developed a Corruption Prevention Guide for Insurance Companies to assist insurance companies in strengthening their corruption prevention capabilities in key operational areas, fostering a probity culture in the industry.The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint against dummy insurance agents. Enquiries revealed that between February 2016 and November 2020, Lo Yin-wa had recruited co-defendants in the case and others to join Sun Life HK or FWD. Lo Yin-wa 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 Yin-wa had conspired with other FWD insurance agents to falsely represent that the FWD insurance agents recruited by Lo Yin-wa were the handling agents of 272 insurance policy applications. In addition, Lo Yin-wa had conspired with then unit manager of Sun Life HK Kwok Yun-fong and other Sun Life HK insurance agents to falsely represent that the Sun Life HK insurance agents recruited by Lo Yin-wa 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 Yin-wa’s team, and over $29 million to Kwok Yun-fong’s team.Enquiries also 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 Yin-wa 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 Yin-wa, 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 Franco Kuan, assisted by ICAC officer William Leung.