A director (D1) of a transportation company (Company A), charged by the ICAC, was today (Wednesday) sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at the District Court for offering bribes up to $2 million in return for business.

D1, 48, director-cum-shareholder of Company A, was earlier found guilty by Deputy Judge Rickie Chan Kam-cheong of one count of offering an advantage to a director of port and embarkation (D2) of a cruises company (Company B), contrary to Section 9(2)(b) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

The court heard that Company B arranged for transportation of crew members, immigration officers and goods for its cruise liners.

On the recommendation of D2, Company A was engaged to provide transportation services for Company B.

The court heard that since April 2004, D1 had lodged several complaints with Company B, accusing D2 of soliciting bribes from him as rewards for awarding transportation orders to Company A.

On one occasion in February 2007, D1 told an employee of Company B that he had offered bribes totalling between $1 million and $2 million to D2 between November 5, 1999 and September 30, 2004.

In return, D2 awarded transportation orders of Company B to Company A, the court was told.

D2, 47, was earlier charged by the ICAC with accepting bribes totalling about $1 million from operators of three transportation companies, including Company A, for awarding business to the latter. He was found guilty of four counts of agent accepting an advantage, and sentenced to 45 months' imprisonment.

The prosecution was today represented by Acting Senior Public Prosecutor Anthony Chau, assisted by ICAC officer Edwin Tsang.