Two chefs of two restaurants were today (Friday) each sentenced to three months' imprisonment at the Eastern Magistracy for accepting bribes from a frozen food supplier as rewards for placing orders with the company.

A former head chef (D1) of a restaurant, 38, and another former head chef (D2) of another restaurant, 32, had respectively pleaded guilty to one count and two counts of agent accepting an advantage, contrary to Section 9(1)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

In passing sentence, Magistrate Mr Garry Tallentire noted that the seriousness of the offences warranted immediate custodial sentences.

The court heard that the defendants were both responsible for placing purchase orders with suppliers for their respective restaurants.

D1 admitted that since 2003, he had accepted from a frozen food supplier rebates equivalent to five per cent of the total value of purchase orders placed with the supplier.

The court heard that on the last occasion when they met on May 5 this year, D1 received from the supplier $2,000.

D2 admitted that on two occasions in April and May this year, he had accepted a total of $4,000 from the same supplier, being the five-percent rebate, for placing food orders with the supplier.

The prosecution was today represented by ICAC officer Arthur Tsui.