A former president (D1) and a former director (D2) of a waste services company (Company A) were today (Friday) arrested and charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to offer HK$28 million in bribes to a former Macao official in return for public cleansing contracts of the Macao SAR Government.

D1, 62, former president of Company A, a Macao company, and former director of another waste services company (Company B), a Hong Kong company; and D2, 56, former director of both Company A and Company B, were escorted to the Eastern Magistracy this afternoon on one joint charge of conspiracy to offer advantages to an agent, contrary to Section 9(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.

No pleas were taken. Magistrate Mr Anthony Yuen Wai-ming adjourned the case until April 9 for plea at the District Court.

At the time of the alleged bribery offence, Company A was a joint venture set up by Company B and a company in Macao.

The charge alleged that between January 1, 2002 and December 6, 2006, D1 and D2 conspired together and with another director of Company A to offer a total amount of about MOP 29 million (equivalent to about HK$28 million) to then a Macao official.

In return, the official was said to have assisted Company A in the award and renewal of public cleansing contracts between Company A and the Macao SAR Government.

D1 and D2 were each granted cash bail of $500,000. They were also ordered not to leave Hong Kong, surrender all travel documents, and not to contact prosecution witnesses.

The prosecution was today represented by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Eddie Sean, assisted by ICAC officer Winnie Lee.