Six months’ jail for ex-manager of HKJC charged by ICAC with bribery for favouring co-organiser of equestrian events
2024-4-10
A former manager of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), charged by the ICAC, was today (April 10) sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts for accepting a watch from a co-organiser of an annual world-class equestrian event sponsored by the HKJC, and submitting to the HKJC expenses claim forms which contained false information about meal expenses with its business partners.
Chu Lui, 51, former Senior Programme Manager (Development and Marketing) of the HKJC, was earlier found guilty of four charges – one of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and three of agent using a document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the POBO.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Stephanie Tsui May-har said the defendant’s acceptance of gift through his official capacity was intolerable in the society. The court had to mete out an immediate custodial sentence in view of the seriousness of the offences involved in the present case.
The court heard that since 2013, the HKJC, EEM Asia Limited (EEM) and the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation started to co-organise an annual world-class equestrian event – Longines Masters of Hong Kong (the Event). Two tripartite agreements covering the terms of co-organising the Event between 2017 and 2021 were respectively signed in November 2016 and November 2018.
Under the agreements, the HKJC was the major sponsor of the Event and EEM would invite overseas riders and provide logistics and administration support to the Event. The defendant was delegated to discuss and negotiate the agreement terms and event details with EEM on behalf of the HKJC.
On November 23, 2018, the defendant accepted a watch with a listed price of $8,200 from the son of the director of EEM for remaining favourably disposed to EEM in his capacity as a public servant.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HKJC. Enquiries revealed that contrary to the Code of Conduct and the Anti-Bribery Policy of the HKJC, the defendant did not report to the HKJC his acceptance of the watch.
It was also revealed in the ICAC investigation that two additional programmes with increased overall sponsorship by the HKJC were included to the agreement signed in November 2016 upon the suggestion of the defendant. Separately, in an addendum agreement signed in January 2019, the HKJC undertook to pay EEM two extra sponsorships totalling $2.5 million for two other networking events on top of the original agreed sponsorship of the Event for 2018 and 2019.
The court also heard that between October 2018 and April 2019, the defendant used three expenses claim forms which contained false statements that he had incurred expenses totalling about $5,500 for four working meals with staff of EEM and a football club to deceive the HKJC. However, investigation revealed that the staff concerned did not attend those working meals.
The HKJC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Chan Sze-yan, assisted by ICAC officer Christine Wong.
An ICAC spokesperson notes public servants, including employees of public bodies, should maintain a high standard of integrity when discharging their duties. Obtaining personal gain by corrupt or deceptive means would be subject to criminal liability.
Chu Lui, 51, former Senior Programme Manager (Development and Marketing) of the HKJC, was earlier found guilty of four charges – one of public servant accepting an advantage, contrary to section 4(2)(a) of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO); and three of agent using a document with intent to deceive his principal, contrary to section 9(3) of the POBO.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ms Stephanie Tsui May-har said the defendant’s acceptance of gift through his official capacity was intolerable in the society. The court had to mete out an immediate custodial sentence in view of the seriousness of the offences involved in the present case.
The court heard that since 2013, the HKJC, EEM Asia Limited (EEM) and the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation started to co-organise an annual world-class equestrian event – Longines Masters of Hong Kong (the Event). Two tripartite agreements covering the terms of co-organising the Event between 2017 and 2021 were respectively signed in November 2016 and November 2018.
Under the agreements, the HKJC was the major sponsor of the Event and EEM would invite overseas riders and provide logistics and administration support to the Event. The defendant was delegated to discuss and negotiate the agreement terms and event details with EEM on behalf of the HKJC.
On November 23, 2018, the defendant accepted a watch with a listed price of $8,200 from the son of the director of EEM for remaining favourably disposed to EEM in his capacity as a public servant.
The ICAC investigation arose from a corruption complaint referred by the HKJC. Enquiries revealed that contrary to the Code of Conduct and the Anti-Bribery Policy of the HKJC, the defendant did not report to the HKJC his acceptance of the watch.
It was also revealed in the ICAC investigation that two additional programmes with increased overall sponsorship by the HKJC were included to the agreement signed in November 2016 upon the suggestion of the defendant. Separately, in an addendum agreement signed in January 2019, the HKJC undertook to pay EEM two extra sponsorships totalling $2.5 million for two other networking events on top of the original agreed sponsorship of the Event for 2018 and 2019.
The court also heard that between October 2018 and April 2019, the defendant used three expenses claim forms which contained false statements that he had incurred expenses totalling about $5,500 for four working meals with staff of EEM and a football club to deceive the HKJC. However, investigation revealed that the staff concerned did not attend those working meals.
The HKJC had rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Public Prosecutor Chan Sze-yan, assisted by ICAC officer Christine Wong.
An ICAC spokesperson notes public servants, including employees of public bodies, should maintain a high standard of integrity when discharging their duties. Obtaining personal gain by corrupt or deceptive means would be subject to criminal liability.