A member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has been arrested and charged by the ICAC for alleged bribery and conspiracy to defraud in relation to an application for HKJC racing membership following the prosecution of 10 other persons.

The defendant, 63, a businessman, who was arrested and charged last Friday (August 26), faces two counts of agent soliciting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and one of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the Common Law.

The defendant, currently on ICAC bail, will appear in Eastern Magistracy at 9:30 am on Wednesday (August 31) for transfer to the District Court.

The case arose from a corruption complaint. Subsequent ICAC enquiries revealed the above alleged offences of bribery and conspiracy to defraud.

The bribery charges allege that in mid February and on March 2, 2009, the defendant solicited a "laisee" of an unspecified sum on both occasions as a reward for supporting the application of a man to become a racing member of HKJC.

The conspiracy charge alleges that between January and March 2009, the defendant conspired with an honorary voting member and a voting member of HKJC as well as the above applicant to defraud HKJC by falsely stating that the information in his application form for racing membership of HKJC was true.

The alleged false information included their acquaintance, respective length of acquaintance and nature of relationship with the applicant, as well as the qualities possessed by the applicant or the reasons for supporting him to become a racing member of HKJC.

Apart from the above defendant, 10 other persons were earlier charged by the ICAC for their alleged roles in the HKJC membership application fraud scams.

Of them, nine who were laid with a total of 10 bribery and other charges were two honorary voting members, two voting members and three members of HKJC as well as two other persons. They pleaded not guilty to their respective charges, and will appear at the District Court for a pre-trial review on October 17.

The remaining defendant was charged by the ICAC with one count of conspiracy to defraud in relation to his application for HKJC racing membership in another case. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and will be tried at Eastern Magistracy on October 10.

HKJC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation.